Bulgaria’s government announced its resignation on Thursday after less than one year in power. Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said the decision came before a no-confidence motion filed by the opposition could be voted on in parliament. Tens of thousands protested across Bulgaria on Wednesday. The main complaint was government failure to fight corruption, triggered by a 2026 draft budget seen as trying to hide corruption. Though the government withdrew the budget, anger stayed high. “The government resigns today,” Zhelyazkov told reporters after a meeting with ruling party leaders. He added, “People of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and religions have spoken out in favour of resignation. That is why this civic energy must be supported and encouraged.” Bulgaria is preparing to join the eurozone on 1 January, and this move is expected to continue despite the government’s resignation. Analysts note that low trust in institutions and rising prices make the situation tense. Last week, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev backed the protesters and called for early elections. On Wednesday, crowds rallied outside the parliament building in Sofia, chanting “resign” and holding signs that read “I’m fed up!” with politicians’ caricatures. Gergana Gelkova, 24, a shop worker who joined the protest, said widespread corruption had become “intolerable.” She added that many of her friends have left Bulgaria and do not plan to return. Bulgaria ranks low on Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index. The country has held seven snap elections since huge protests in 2020 against former premier Boyko Borissov. Borissov’s GERB party won last year’s election and formed the current coalition government in January.