Bulgaria Petition Gains 17,000 Signatures to Seek Presidential Veto of 2026 Budget

Within less than a day, over 17,000 Bulgarians signed an online petition calling on President Iliana Yotova to veto the state budget for 2026 that was approved by parliament's Progressive Bulgaria coalition with DPS support. The initiative was launched by Asen Vasilev, leader of the Continue the Change (PP) party, after the budget was passed in the plenary chamber.

The petition asks the president to send the budget back to the National Assembly for reconsideration and lists specific demands: stronger state support for motherhood, parental leave and inherited pensions; a review of measures for workers, children, education, culture, small businesses and municipalities; higher salaries for medical professionals; sustainable financing for municipal and regional hospitals; and improved reproductive health, preventive care and transparency of medical services. Organisers plan to deliver the signed petition with detailed motivations to President Yotova in the coming week.