site.btaContinue the Change Chair Warns Interior Minister of Expected Provocations at Monday's Protest against 2026 Budget Bill

Continue the Change chair Assen Vassilev has warned Interior Minister Daniel Mitov of possible provocations at Monday's protest against the 2026 budget bills and urged him to prevent them. Speaking on bTV on Sunday, Vassilev also called on GERB leader Boyko Borissov to withdraw the 2026 draft budget.

"There is already a lot of information that provocations are being prepared for the protest. There were provocations at the most recent protest, including by police officers, but there were also others who acted honourably and stopped the provocateurs. The protest was peaceful. This one will be peaceful as well, but you must stop the provocateurs and not allow [Movement for Rights and Freedoms -] New Beginning and various groups to infiltrate provocateurs,” Vassilev said on bTV.

Addressing Borissov, he said: "Withdraw this budget. Do not blow up the country. There is a chance to revise the budget so that it works for all Bulgarian citizens, but that requires withdrawing it and changing the philosophy." According to Vassilev, planned salary increases of 50% in some sectors and 5% in others will inevitably cause tension, particularly in the security and justice sectors where the largest raises are expected.

Vassilev added that people will not allow taxes to be raised whenever needed to compensate for the lack of European funds. He said that the goal of Monday’s protest is to withdraw and revise the 2026 budget. The party leader expressed readiness to assist with the process in the Parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance.