Новости за 03.12.2025

On Thursday, December 4, Bulgaria will see predominantly significant cloud cover across the country. Temperatures in lowland areas will range from 2° to 7°C, with slightly warmer conditions along the Black Sea coast. Evening hours will bring the onset of rain from the southwest, while many plains and valleys may remain shrouded in fog....

The district prosecutor's office in Varaždin, northern Croatia, has formally charged a father and son with orchestrating the production of over 1.3 million counterfeit COVID-19 tests in Turkey and their subsequent importation into Croatia for distribution across several European countries. The case has been submitted to the Municipal Court in Varaždin. ...

In the Bulgarian town of Vratsa, a tragic accident occurred when a 16-year-old boy was struck by a train, BTA reported. The incident took place around 3:00 p.m....

The demand for euro coin sets proved overwhelming, as post offices across Bulgaria reported that their stocks had rapidly depleted. A check by BNR at randomly selected branches confirmed the shortage. By 11:00 a....

Fourteen people have been formally charged for their role in the violence that broke out during the December 1 protest in central Sofia. Ten remain in custody under 72 hour detention orders, while the others have been placed under different restraint measures. In total, the Sofia District Prosecutor’s Office is overseeing sixteen pre trial proceedings linked to hooliganism during the unrest. ...

Boyko Borissov delivered a brief address on his Instagram profile, aimed at GERB supporters, party members and anyone who wants to see Bulgaria progress. He underlined that coalition partners remain significant, recalling that GERB had gained experience working in coalitions through several consecutive regular governments. Still, he stressed that a decision made the previous day put the priorities of GERB above all else, framing it as the new guiding principle. ...

The National Assembly rejected President Rumen Radev’s request to hold a referendum on whether Bulgaria should adopt the euro in 2026. After a tense and repeatedly interrupted session, deputies voted down the proposal with 135 votes against, 81 in favor and three abstentions. The vote closed a long and often chaotic dispute that began in May, when the president unexpectedly submitted the referendum question despite the advanced stage of Bulgaria’s preparations for joining the eurozone on January 1, 2026. Читать дальше...

Traffic toward Greece was brought to a standstill late this afternoon after Greek farmers pushed their protest convoys to the border approach, forcing a full shutdown of movement through the Kulata checkpoint. Long lines of cars and trucks quickly built up on the Bulgarian side, where police units redirected vehicles and warned drivers that crossing into Greece was impossible. One driver told BTA that officers had informed him the blockade was entirely due to the Greek farmers and that reopening... Читать дальше...

During the Christmas and New Year holiday weekends, trucks over 12 tons will face temporary travel restrictions on Bulgaria’s major highways. The Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) announced that the bans will apply along the full lengths of the Trakia and Struma highways, and on the Hemus highway between Sofia and the Dermantsi junction in Sofia and Lovech districts. The measure aims to ease traffic for passenger vehicles, improve road throughput, and enhance safety during peak travel periods, when... Читать дальше...

Bulgarian lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to pull back the draft state budget for 2026, along with the financial plans for the National Health Insurance Fund and the State Social Insurance system. The motion, initiated by “There Is Such a People” (TISP), secured 201 votes in favor and was backed across the political spectrum. Only the “Greatness” party declined to participate in the vote. ...

With Bulgaria joining the eurozone on January 1, 2026, drivers will be able to purchase vignettes directly in euros through the official digital platforms Vinetki.bg and TollPass.bg, operated by the Road Infrastructure Agency....

Three parliamentary groups in Bulgaria called for the government’s resignation, demanded early elections, and criticized proposals to withdraw the draft budget for 2026. The remarks came during a heated session in the National Assembly, reflecting the mounting pressure following the nationwide protest on December 1. Further reading: More Than a Budget Crisis: Bulgaria's Gen-Z Demands a Political Reckoning ...

The entire leadership of North Macedonia’s opposition party SDSM has stepped down, following a request from the party’s chairman, Venko Filipce, BTA reported. During today’s meeting of the party’s Executive Council, all deputy chairmen, the general secretary, organizational secretaries, and members of the Executive Council submitted their resignations, effectively vacating the top tier of the party’s management. SDSM described the move as a step toward organizational renewal, aimed at bringing in new personnel... Читать дальше...

A heated confrontation unfolded in the National Assembly as Ivaylo Mirchev, co-chairman of "Yes, Bulgaria" (part of WCC-DB) confronted Delyan Peevski, leader of "DPS-New Beginning," outside his office 222A, escalating long-standing tensions between the two political figures. The dispute was triggered by Peevski’s earlier remarks that Mirchev had “bent over” during the so-called "assembly" of GERB and "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB), a comment Mirchev took as a personal and political affront. Читать дальше...

Online gambling is extremely popular around the world, including in Bulgaria. Recent government announcements that the tax on profits will rise from 20% to 25% have generated significant discussion within the industry. As often happens when taxes increase, some operators have expressed concern about potential impacts on their businesses and on consumers....

Sofia’s Christmas tree was officially illuminated, marking the start of the holiday season with a spectacular display of lights and decorations. Mayor Vasil Terziev switched on the tree in the heart of the city, in front of the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral....

The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have reached a provisional deal on new rules that will set a clear timetable for ending the import of Russian natural gas. Once the regulation is formally adopted, the full embargo is expected to take effect by the end of 2027, covering both liquefied natural gas and pipeline deliveries. The measure is presented as a central component of the REPowerEU strategy, which seeks to reduce Europe’s long-standing dependence on Russian energy and secure alternative sources. Читать дальше...

Former Prime Minister and GERB leader Boyko Borissov stated that the recent nationwide protest in Bulgaria was not primarily calling for the government’s resignation but aimed at opposing the 2026 state budget. He emphasized that it is mainly political leaders, rather than ordinary citizens, who are pressing for the cabinet to step down. Borissov highlighted the role of the protests in prompting coalition partners to reconsider and revise problematic areas in the budget, praising the first part of... Читать дальше...

Malaysia will restart the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 at the end of December, more than eleven years after the aircraft disappeared in what remains one of aviation’s most perplexing cases. The Transport Ministry confirmed that deep-sea operations will resume on 30 December, with US-based Ocean Infinity set to lead a new 55-day seabed search carried out in phases. Authorities said the renewed effort will focus on areas assessed to have the highest probability of locating the wreckage... Читать дальше...

Former Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Nikolay Vassilev criticized the government’s handling of the 2026 budget, noting on NOVA NEWS that the budget is not actually prepared at the end of October or early November, but is planned throughout the spring and summer. He said the current administration has largely avoided discussing or implementing meaningful reforms, describing the budget preparation process as severely delayed rather than rushed. Vassilev referred to the 2026 budget in blunt terms... Читать дальше...

The political alliance “We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria” (WCC-DB) has announced that it will submit a no-confidence motion against the Bulgarian government on Friday. The party also plans to organize another large-scale protest next week, coinciding with the debate on the motion. WCC-DB leader and former Finance Minister Asen Vassilev expressed gratitude to the participants of the December 1 protests in Sofia, describing the demonstration as “historic” and praising the peaceful conduct... Читать дальше...

The ruling coalition in Bulgaria has officially proposed to remove several contentious measures from the draft 2026 budget, including increases in social security contributions, the dividend tax, and the mandatory use of the Single Use of Fiscal Cash Registers (SUPTO). Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova announced the decision during a meeting with social partners at the Finance Ministry, attended by MPs from the DPS-New Beginning, employer representatives, and Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov. The... Читать дальше...

After days of nationwide demonstrations and mounting political tension, the government has withdrawn all three draft budget laws for 2026: the state budget, as well as the financial plans of the Social Insurance Institution and the National Health Insurance Fund. Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov has called for a thorough revision of the entire framework. With fewer than fifteen working days left until the year’s end, it is becoming increasingly clear that a fully amended and approved budget will not be ready by January 1, 2026. Читать дальше...