Bulgaria’s government announced on Dec. 11 that it is resigning after weeks of mass street protests over economic policy and entrenched corruption, with the collapse of the ruling coalition coming just weeks before the Balkan country is due to adopt the euro as its official currency.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announced the resignation to reporters in parliament in the country’s capital, Sofia, and in a televised address just minutes before parliament was set to vote on a no-confidence motion tied to economic mismanagement. The motion, brought forward by the opposition, had gained momentum amid some of the largest demonstrations Bulgaria has seen in years.
