Sofia, Bulgaria - December 03, 2025 Bulgaria's Parliament rejected President proposal for holding a referendum on the adoption of the euro in 2026. 81 voted in favor, 135 against, and three abstentions. The decision comes less than a month before Bulgaria is set to join the eurozone. President Rumen Radev noted that the introduction of the single European currency can and should take place with strong national consensus and with the inner conviction of the people, not through disregard for their will. According to the President, the referendum would be beneficial for Bulgarian democracy, giving people a voice and allowing all arguments to be heard. VIDEO courtesy: "Bulgarian National Assembly". SHOTLIST 00:00 min – Various of MPs unfurl a poster with the inscription "Referendum for the lev, NOT the euro" 00:34 min – Kostadin Kostadinov - deputy and leader of “Vazrajdane” political party, saying (Bulgarian): "What is written on this poster is the opinion of 80% of Bulgarians." 00:39 min – Raya Nazaryan - president of the Parliament, reading (Bulgarian): The proposal to hold a national referendum is with the question "Do you agree that Bulgaria should introduce the single European currency EUR in 2026?" It was submitted by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria. 00:51 min – Georgi Hrisimirov - deputy from “Vazrajdane” political party, saying (Bulgarian): "The euro is a shitcoin because we are going to the sinking ship of the Eurozone, dreamed of by you. There we will pay the debts of other countries, the money of Bulgarian citizens will depreciate, prices will grow at a gallop, and incomes, as we see, are not growing in the same way. This is shitcoin." 01:13 min – Manol Peykov - deputy from “Continue the change – Democratic Bulgaria” coalition, saying (Bulgarian): "This is shitcoin. 1.1 eurocents is worth one ruble today. That, gentlemen, is the definition of shitcoin. And if one of the gentlemen in this part of the room gives me a proof that he keeps his money in rubles, not in euros, I will buy him a drink from my own pocket. I will buy it, of course, in euros, because from January 1st, the currency in Bulgaria will be EUR." 01:40 min – Petar Petrov - deputy from “Vazrajdane” political party, saying (Bulgarian): "You can go to an ophthalmologist, because what I have here is the Bulgarian tricolor, pinned on my jacket. I also wear it here, next to my heart. I'm not sure you can see it - I wear the Bulgarian flag here too. And the only currency that matters to me is the (Bulgarian) LEV." 01:55 min – Yordan Ivanov - deputy from “Continue the change – Democratic Bulgaria” coalition, saying (Bulgarian): "You should know something about the EUR. Just as eggs make an omelette, and the reverse is impossible – same for the Eurozone once we enter, we will not leave it. And that's the best! Thank you." 02:12 min – Kostadin Kostadinov - deputy and leader of “Vazrajdane” political party, saying (Bulgarian): "This means that Bulgaria is under a dictatorship. This means that we do not have the right to decide from now on. Is that what you told me? You told me that there is no democracy in the European Union. You told me that we are vassals." 02:23 min – Yavor Bojankov - deputy from “Continue the change – Democratic Bulgaria” coalition, saying (Bulgarian): "No, we disagree. There will be no such referendum. And there will be no such referendum because it is anti-constitutional. On Europe Day this year he (Rumen Radev) declared war on the eurozone. This is not essentially an attack on the single European currency. This is an attack on the geopolitical and civilizational choice of Bulgaria." 02:40 min – Radostin Vasilev - deputy and leader of “Moral, Unity, Honour” political party, saying (Bulgarian): "This is our right. This does not make us a pro-Russian party. We believe that the introduction of the euro from January 1 is a mistake for Bulgaria." 02:50 min – Petar Petrov - deputy from “Vazrajdane” political party, saying (Bulgarian): "Just like Danish and Swedish citizens, Bulgarian citizens also deserve to have a say on whether or not to adopt the euro." 02:58 min – Yordan Todorov - deputy from “Vazrajdane” political party, saying (Bulgarian): "The irony is that it is precisely upon us that the responsible task falls to fight once again against the fascism that is unfolding in Europe. To fight against the dictatorship of the European gerontocrats and the trampling of national sovereignty." 03:20 min – Yavor Bojankov - deputy from “Continue the change – Democratic Bulgaria” coalition, saying (Bulgarian): "There will be no referendum. On January 1st, everyone, including you from Vazrazhdane, will use the single European currency. And the euro will wear the Bulgarian national symbols. Long live European Bulgaria!" 03:37 min – Raya Nazaryan - president of the Parliament, saying (Bulgarian): "Dear colleagues, I am putting to a vote a proposal to hold a national referendum with the question "Do you agree that Bulgaria should introduce the single European currency, the euro, in 2026?" 03:50 min – Various of MPs voting 03:57 min – Raya Nazaryan - president of the Parliament, saying (Bulgarian): "Votes FOR - 81, AGAINST - 135, ABSTENTIONS - 3. The proposal was rejected." 04:06 min – Kostadin Kostadinov - deputy and leader of “Vazrajdane” political party, saying (Bulgarian): "Today, once again, the Bulgarian parliament failed its main exam. And that was the exam on democracy."