11.12.2025 17:55
After weeks of ongoing corruption protests in Bulgaria, Prime Minister Rosen Jelyazkov made a notable move. Jelyazkov resigned before the parliamentary vote of confidence.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Jelyazkov has decided to resign ahead of a confidence vote initiated by the opposition for the coalition government.
PRIME MINISTER RESIGNS IN BULGARIA
A significant development occurred in Bulgaria amid ongoing protests against corruption and the government's budget proposal. In a statement made in parliament, Prime Minister Rosen Jelyazkov cited the increasing social dissatisfaction in the country as the reason for his resignation.
Jelyazkov stated, "We want to act in accordance with the expectations of society. Power derives from the will of the people. The call for resignation has been raised by both the youth and the elderly. This citizen energy should be supported and encouraged."
VOTE TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 12
Jelyazkov's resignation has also paved the way for a new early election in the country. The vote regarding the government's resignation is expected to take place on December 12. Meanwhile, Boyko Borisov, the leader of the GERB party, which is at the head of the coalition government, reacted negatively to Prime Minister Jelyazkov's resignation.
Borisov stated that his party would make no effort to pass the budget currently under discussion in parliament following the government's resignation, saying, "We did nothing to be ashamed of during our 11 months in power."
"A RESIGNED GOVERNMENT CANNOT FUNCTION"
Borisov explained that he personally requested Prime Minister Jelyazkov's resignation, saying, "There will be no restructuring in our legislative work from now on; the opposition cannot blame us. A resigned government cannot function. We will help prevent possible price increases in the market, but we will not interfere with the new budget."
CONSTITUTIONAL PROCEDURE
Following the government's resignation, according to a procedure referred to as "parliamentary roulette," President Rumen Radev will successively assign the task of forming a government to the two largest parties in Parliament. If these attempts fail, Radev will have to assign the task of forming a cabinet to another party in parliament.
If a government cannot be formed, Radev will set a date for early elections. Political observers indicate that the parliament has exhausted its potential to form a new coalition government, suggesting that the likelihood of establishing a new coalition government is low and that early elections may be on the horizon.
CONFIDENCE VOTE FAILED
Meanwhile, in the planned confidence vote regarding the government's economic policy proposal in parliament, a sufficient majority was not achieved. A total of 108 members participated in the vote.
The GERB party, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), and the There Is Such a People (ITN) party, which are part of the ruling coalition, along with deputies from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms-New Beginning Party, boycotted the vote by leaving the chamber before the voting took place. At least 121 votes were needed for the proposal to pass in the 240-member assembly.