Western outlets like AP and EuroNews covered massive Bulgarian protests where around 20k people surrounded parliament to block lawmakers voting on the 2026 budget that jacks up taxes and social security payments. PP-DB opposition coalition organized the rally against spending that hits almost 46 percent of GDP and gets funded by squeezing businesses plus workers while debt explodes.
Things got messy when protesters chucked fireworks and bottles at cops who allegedly gassed the crowd back, with people trying to flip a police van and smash MP vehicles during what started as a peaceful demonstration. Three officers got injured keeping order. The budget will probably pass anyway since the ruling coalition controls parliament, but economists warned that the financial plan carries serious risks for a country about to join the eurozone.
Things got messy when protesters chucked fireworks and bottles at cops who allegedly gassed the crowd back, with people trying to flip a police van and smash MP vehicles during what started as a peaceful demonstration. Three officers got injured keeping order. The budget will probably pass anyway since the ruling coalition controls parliament, but economists warned that the financial plan carries serious risks for a country about to join the eurozone.
