SHOTLIST:

SOFIA, BULGARIA (NOV. 26, 2025) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL)

1.INDEPENDENCE SQUARE IN SOFIA, BULGARIA (TWO SHOTS)

2. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS AT INDEPENDENCE SQUARE, CHANTING SLOGANS

3. VARIOUS OF CLASHES BETWEEN POLICE AND PROTESTERS

4. PROTESTERS SHAKING GENDARMERIE VEHICLE

5. VARIOUS OF POLICE DISPERSING CROWD

6. PROTESTER ON TRUCK

7. VARIOUS OF POLICE LISTENING TO PROTESTERS

8. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS HOLDING HANDS AND MARCHING AS THEY CHANT SLOGANS

9. POLICE TAKING SECURITY MEASURES SOFIA, BULGARIA - NOV. 26, 2025: Thousands of people gathered in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia on Wednesday, Nov. 26, to protest a new budget draft submitted to parliament by the government.

Demonstrators assembled at Independence Square, where the Parliament and Prime Ministry buildings are located.

Protesters chanted slogans against Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov’s government and the ruling coalition. The crowd surrounded the main entrance of the parliament building, attempting to prevent lawmakers attending the general session from leaving.

The budget, prepared for the first time in euros due to Bulgaria’s planned transition from its national currency, the lev, to the euro on Jan. 1, 2026, drew criticism particularly over certain parameters related to the social sector.

Police took extensive security measures throughout the protest. As the parliamentary session lasted longer than expected and the demonstrators eventually dispersed, the protest ended without incident.