site.btaUPDATED Protests against Euro Changeover Held in Several Bulgarian Cities

Protests against the planned euro changeover in Bulgaria were held in several cities across the country on Wednesday. 

In Sofia, demonstrators gathered outside the Bulgarian National Bank building. The protest was organized by the Doyran 2025 Association and was registered with the Sofia Municipality. Protesters carried banners reading "No to the euro," "It is time to be heard, no to the euro," "What good is the euro if we lose Bulgaria," "Direct democracy through referendums. Lev! With Russia." Signatures were collected in support of extending the period of dual circulation of the Bulgarian lev and the euro until July 1, 2026, in order to allow time for the court in Luxembourg to rule on cases filed in relation to Bulgaria's euro adoption. Traffic in the area was not disrupted, and a police presence was in place. 

Similar protests were staged in downtown Vidin, Vratsa and Montana (north-western Bulgaria), Veliko Tarnovo (north-central Bulgaria), Ruse and Shumen (north-eastern Bulgaria), where people demanded that the Bulgarian lev remain the country's official currency. 

In Veliko Tarnovo, protesters also voiced opposition to the absence of an adopted budget for 2026. According to the organizers, the protest was prompted by what they described as the illegitimacy of the current caretaker government, which they said lacks the authority to adopt a budget or introduce the euro.