Small Russian-speaking protest in Sofia – ostensibly against the euro, ostensibly for Bulgaria

On June 4, 2025, the "Vazrazhdane" party held a protest in central Sofia, officially announced as a demonstration against the upcoming adoption of the euro in Bulgaria. The event coincided with the publication of the convergence report by the European Commission and the European Central Bank, which gave the green light for euro adoption starting January 1, 2026.

Despite the significance of the topic, the protest attracted a relatively small number of participants — a few hundred people, many of whom spoke Russian. The crowd chanted general slogans like “Sovereign Bulgaria,” “No to the euro,” and “Slavic brotherhood,” with many of the messages sounding more ideological and geopolitical than concrete and economic.

Party leader Kostadin Kostadinov told the crowd that “introducing the euro is a political act of submission,” accusing the government of serving foreign interests. In his speech, he frequently referenced “the true Europe of nations” and the need for Bulgaria to preserve its identity “far from Brussels’ dictates.” However, no clear alternative or substantive argument was presented.

The protest passed peacefully, though central streets near the National Assembly and the Bulgarian National Bank were temporarily blocked. Police presence was increased, but no clashes occurred. On social media, citizens expressed frustration with the disruption caused by a small protest with unclear messages during a workday.

According to political observers, the event is part of "Vazrazhdane’s" long-term strategy to position itself as an alternative to the country's European course. However, support for such actions remains limited, and public opinion on the euro remains divided, with a slight majority in favor of joining the eurozone.

The June 4 protest demonstrated that despite loud slogans, "Vazrazhdane" struggles to mobilize broad support on issues affecting the country’s long-term economic path — especially when its rhetoric sounds more like geopolitical signaling than a national economic stance.