site.btaGovernment, Political Leaders React to President's Proposal for Euro Referendum

This is how government and political leaders reacted to President Rumen Radev’s idea to table a proposal to the National Assembly for a referendum on the adoption of the euro.

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov wrote on Facebook: Bulgaria chose its European path long ago, having made a valid commitment to participate in the monetary union with the ratification of the Accession Treaty and its entry into force.

The National Assembly, legitimately elected by the Bulgarian citizens, adopted all the necessary decisions for joining the euro area. In 2024, the Constitutional Court ruled categorically that holding a referendum on adopting the euro was constitutionally inadmissible. And whether our country is ready to join the euro area is clear from the convergence reports of the European Commission and the European Central Bank.

I believe that it is categorically unacceptable for President Rumen Radev to position his future political project in an electoral race with Vazrazhdane and through his Velichie at the expense of the future of the Bulgarian citizens. This behaviour, with its unpredictability, has created perplexity in the European institutions. 

"The Bulgarian president, albeit late, has taken into account the calls of Vazrazhdane and the sentiment of the vast majority of the Bulgarian people and has said that he will submit a proposal for a referendum on the preservation of the Bulgarian lev. We, of course, support this," wrote Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov on Facebook.

Velichie leader Ivelin Mihaylov described the president's action as the only honorable move of a leader who wants to hear the voice of the people.

MECh leader Radostin Vasilev said:  I support the President's decision to submit a proposal to the National Assembly to hold a referendum on the Bulgaria lev, although it seems a bit late.

Radev is counting on this referendum to ride the populist wave and announce his own political project and this is not good for Bulgaria, said Ivaylo Mirchev of Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria.

Continue the Change co-leader Kiril Petkov pledged on Facebook that Continue the Change will do everything in its power for Bulgaria to join the euro area on January 1, 2026 and firmly states that they will not support "this unconstitutional referendum". 

“I will vote against calling a referendum on the euro without any hesitation and as many times as necessary,” Delyan Dobrev of GERB-UDF wrote on Facebook.

MRF-New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski called untenable the proposal of President Rumen Radev for a referendum on the adoption of the euro.

" Bulgaria is an integral part of Europe and no one can take away its rightful place in the family of European democracies by trying to stir up discord and opposition. Europe unites, not divides, and our mission is the people and their well-being", the statement reads.

There Is Such a People leader Slavi Trifonov wrote on Facebook: "We at TISP support the President's idea to ask the citizens. I want to be clear. I am in favour of Bulgaria adopting the euro and joining the eurozone, but first I am Bulgarian and then I am European, and in such a referendum I will say publicly and loudly what my opinion is, but what will happen will be decided by the people, the Bulgarian citizens, because it is their right and such is direct democracy."