Staying Local

Thousands of protesters led by Bulgaria’s far-right Vazrazhdane (Revival) party clashed with police in Sofia over the weekend, attacking the local office of the European Commission in opposition to the Bulgarian government’s plan to adopt the euro currency in 2026, the Associated Press reported.

Demonstrators threw firecrackers, Molotov cocktails, and red paint at the building housing the European Union’s executive representatives, setting a door on fire before being pushed back by police.

Police said around 10 officers were injured and at least six people were arrested, Politico added.

The demonstration was organized by Revival leader Kostadin Kostadinov, who has called for a referendum on eurozone membership and threatened to block the work of parliament if the government proceeds without a public vote.

Protesters waved Bulgarian and party flags while chanting “No to the euro,” and “Yes to the Bulgarian lev.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attack as “outrageous,” while Bulgaria’s new government, led by Rosen Zhelyazkov from the center-right GERB party, denounced the violence as “unacceptable” and an attack on the rule of law.

The government has made joining the eurozone a key priority, emphasizing that adopting the euro will strengthen Bulgaria’s integration with the bloc and benefit Bulgarians.

But the pro-Russian Revival – currently the third-largest party in parliament – has opposed the move, citing economic concerns such as a surge in prices, Reuters wrote.

While some economists question Bulgaria’s readiness for the euro, others – including the government – believe the adoption will attract more foreign investment and secure credit ratings upgrades that could cut its debt-financing costs.

Bulgaria, which joined the bloc in 2007, has faced political instability in recent years, with a series of parliamentary elections and shifting coalitions.