Thousands of Bulgarians took to the streets on May 31, 2025, in Sofia and other major cities to protest the government’s plan to adopt the euro as the country’s official currency, demanding a referendum on the issue. The demonstrations were organized by nationalist groups, including the far-right Revival Party, and various civic organizations, reflecting widespread public skepticism about the economic impact of replacing the Bulgarian lev with the euro.
Protesters voiced concerns that adopting the euro could harm Bulgaria’s economy by driving up prices and eroding economic sovereignty. Slogans such as “Freedom for the Bulgarian lev” and “The future belongs to sovereign states” were common, with some participants waving flags of pro-Russian parties. The protests occurred just days before Bulgaria was expected to receive formal approval from Brussels to join the eurozone.
The opposition to the euro is fueled in part by disinformation campaigns, both domestic and foreign, which have muddled public understanding of the transition. False claims include fears that citizens’ savings could be confiscated or devalued due to currency conversion, despite laws guaranteeing a fixed exchange rate between the lev and the euro.
Analysts have linked much of this misinformation to coordinated Russian propaganda efforts exploiting Bulgaria’s historical ties to Russia and relatively low media literacy rates.
President Rumen Radev has amplified anti-euro sentiment by calling for a referendum, citing inflation worries and concerns over purchasing power. However, the pro-European majority in parliament rejected the referendum proposal, accusing Radev of aligning with Moscow to undermine Bulgaria’s European integration.
Despite the protests and political tensions, the Bulgarian government maintains that euro adoption is a strategic priority aimed at boosting economic stability and competitiveness. Financial institutions and the European Commission continue to support Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone as a vital step toward deeper integration with the European Union.
