Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Ministry of Interior disputes the number of supporters of the Bulgarian lev who protested on May 31

Photo: Ani Petrova, BNR

Supporters of keeping the Bulgarian lev after 2026 and the Ministry of Interior disagree on the number of people who took to the streets of Bulgarian cities on May 31.

The organizers of the protest, which took place in Sofia and in more than 100 other cities across the country, claim that the total number of participants exceeded 270,000.

''The actual number is significantly lower”, the Ministry of the Interior replied to an inquiry from 24 Chasa daily. The ministry did not conduct an official count, but based on the number of police officers deployed for security and the drone footage published by the Interior Ministry, it is clear, they say, that the number was below 270,000.

The leader of the Vazrazhdane, Kostadin Kostadinov, one of the main organizers of the demonstrations, stated that over 50,000 people gathered in Sofia, more than 20,000 in Plovdiv, and between 5,000 and 10,000 in other regional cities. According to the police, however, the number of participants in Plovdiv, for example, was no more than 1,000.

Meanwhile, supporters of the euro have expressed doubts on social media, suggesting that some of the protest photos shared online are fake or have been generated using artificial intelligence.

Edited by Ivo Ivanov

Published and translated by Kostadin Atanasov

Photo: Ani Petrova, BNR




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Boyko Borisov: Bulgaria will join the eurozone on January 1 despite protests

GERB leader Boyko Borisov said in Parliament that Bulgaria will become a member of the eurozone on January 1, regardless of protests organized by representatives of We Continue the Change Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB). He was commenting on opposition..

published on 11/26/25 11:06 AM

Bulgaria at risk of non compliance with the EU's fiscal framework in 2026

Six countries, including Bulgaria, are at risk of non compliance with the EU fiscal framework in 2026. This is highlighted in the 2026 European Semester Autumn Package, adopted by the European Commission. Another 12 countries are urged to continue..

published on 11/26/25 10:06 AM

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov supports the peace plan for Ukraine

“Borders cannot be changed by force, and Ukraine’s long-term security must be guaranteed”, Bulgaria’s Premier Rossen Zhelyazkov said during a videoconference meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing”, led by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK..

published on 11/26/25 8:57 AM