La Marx International

The government of Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov resigned on December 11, 2025, following nationwide protests against his policies designed primarily to protect the interests of oligarchs who controlled key sectors of Bulgarian capitalism. The mobilizations brought an end to the center-right capitalist governing coalition, comprised of the conservative Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB), the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), and the capitalist party ITN.

The wave of discontent, marked by significant youth participation and led by Generation Z, as is happening in all revolutionary processes around the world, began in late November when the government tried to approve the budget to abandon the national currency, the Lev, and adopt the Euro from January 1, 2026, thus joining the Eurozone after being a member of the European Union since 2007.

However, as a result of the wave of protests, the GERB-led government withdrew its draft budget on December 3rd, forced to do so by demonstrations rejecting the increases in certain taxes and social security contributions included in the budget. Furthermore, the protesters alleged that the increases included in the budget were intended to conceal the misappropriation of funds.

Bulgaria joins the 3rd global revolutionary wave

The revolution in Bulgaria is part of a global revolutionary process unfolding across five continents, a third wave sweeping through Turkey, Serbia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Morocco, Peru, Paraguay, Ecuador, France, the Ukrainian national revolution, Syria, Rojava, and the Palestinian national liberation intifada, among others. The Bulgarian revolution is a slap in the face to those who claim there is a rise in fascism and the far right because it has overthrown a "right-wing" capitalist government , just like Meloni, Trump, or Milei.

This February revolution, in turn, reflects the shifts in consciousness taking place worldwide. Bulgarian activists protest when the GERB government presents a budget in euros, but ten years ago, activists in Ukraine and other Eastern European countries mobilized in favor of the euro, believing that joining the euro or the EU would lift them out of poverty and misery.

Now, as a result of workers' struggles across Europe against attacks on living standards, revolutions in countries like France that have shaken capitalist governments like Macron's, coupled with general strikes in Italy, Portugal, and Belgium, the promises that joining the Eurozone in 2026 would bring greater economic stability and a better quality of life are vanishing. Bulgarian activists no longer believe in the euro, which represents a significant step forward in consciousness because it challenges capitalism and European imperialism.

We support the Bulgarian revolution! Long live the struggle of the Bulgarian people!

Although Bulgaria is part of the European Union and the Eurozone, the GERB government presented its plan as a program of "modernization and stability," but in practice it consolidated the profits of large imperialist companies and the Bulgarian ruling classes, supported by clientelist networks driven by the real power behind the scenes: former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and oligarch Delian Peevski, who controlled power alongside the Zhelyazkov government without even holding cabinet positions, solely through their control of the capitalist state.

That's why the demonstrations that took place throughout the country, and in all the countries of the world where Bulgarians reside, saw people displaying symbolic objects, including a large yellow sofa with the slogan "Divan, Divan ," a play on words with the name of Bayram Bayram, a deputy from Peevski, and chanting slogans against Borisov, demanding his removal from power. The government championed low deficits and budgetary discipline while disproportionately cutting social spending, investment in public education, and youth support programs, while simultaneously maintaining tax exemptions, special deductions, and preferential treatment for large conglomerates close to the government.

Another pillar of the economic plan was the continuation of a selective privatization process of public companies and services, under the guise of efficiency and convergence with EU standards, to sell off and grant concessions for energy infrastructure, transportation, telecommunications, and municipal services. In addition to being a surrender of the country's assets, these operations were carried out through bidding processes designed to favor consortiums linked to the same oligarchs who influenced national politics.

At the same time, young Bulgarians of Generation Z suffered from labor flexibility and low wages, supposedly a way to attract foreign investment. Temporary contracts, subcontracting, and precarious forms of employment were facilitated, especially among young people. Generation Z found themselves trapped between low wages, limited opportunities for professional development, and mass emigration to other European Union countries in search of better conditions.

From the Marx International, we salute the revolution in Bulgaria. Long live the struggle of the workers and the people! We also welcome the Bulgarian people joining the long line of revolutions sweeping the world, on the path to defeating imperialist capitalism governed from Wall Street and defended by the Brussels bureaucrats, on the path to the struggle for Global Socialism.