Statement by a representative of the “23 September” Movement at the event “The Bulgarian people’s anti-imperialist struggle against the euro and the consequences of European economic policy on Greece,” held in Greece on January 2026.
On January 1, 2026, Bulgaria officially entered the eurozone. The 140-year history of the Bulgarian national currency, the lev, came to an end just a few weeks ago. According to the plan of the ruling class and their patrons in Brussels, until the end of January, both currencies will be accepted in Bulgarian shops, and from February 1, the only legal form of payment throughout the country will be the euro. Supporters of the current system in Bulgaria and of what they call “Euro-Atlanticism” are celebrating and actively mocking and ridiculing the healthy forces among the Bulgarian people who opposed joining the eurozone.
Although the adoption of the euro is still in progress, we can probably draw certain conclusions about the communist and anti-imperialist movement in connection with these events.
Several years ago, when the plans of the ruling bureaucrats in Brussels to bring Bulgaria into the eurozone became clear, our organization launched an active campaign against it. It was clear to us from the very beginning that the euro is an imperialist tool that will take away the last remnants of Bulgarian sovereignty, which has already been almost wiped out over the last 35 years since the restoration of capitalism. It was clear to us that only a small circle of thugs and profiteers would benefit from the introduction of this currency, at the expense of the broad masses of the people. It was clear to us that this would lead to even greater impoverishment and suffering for the Bulgarian working class. As we know, according to all statistics to date, Bulgaria is the poorest country in the EU.
This was also happening in the context of the full-scale war being prepared by the European and American imperialists against the Russian Federation. I am sure that no people in Europe wants war. But if there is a people in the EU that is least likely to participate in a war against Russia, it is the Bulgarians. Russians and Bulgarians are linked by endless cultural, familial and historical ties. All this makes Bulgaria an unreliable ally in the war that is being prepared. At the same time, our geographical position is extremely important in this context. Bulgaria is being prepared to be a frontline state in this future conflict. That is why the imperialists were so determined to bring our country into an alliance, such as the eurozone, which does not even have a formally written procedure for leaving.
For us, there was no doubt from the outset that this would be yet another betrayal of the Bulgarian comprador elite towards its people and that it was our duty to oppose this criminal policy.
We organized various broadcasts and informational materials that explained to Bulgarians the risks and consequences of introducing the euro. We organized two international conferences in Sofia with experts from different countries who shared their observations, research, and experience related to this common European currency.
In early 2023, an initiative was launched to collect signatures for a referendum on Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone. The formal procedure for holding such a referendum in our country is extremely complex and difficult. In practice, the idea is that referendums should not be held on the initiative of the people. In order for a referendum to be held, at least 400,000 valid signatures from adult Bulgarian citizens must be collected within just three months. These are the requirements in a country with a population of about 6 million people.
Nevertheless, we actively participated in this campaign. We took part in collecting signatures and visited various towns and villages. We put in a lot of effort, together with many Bulgarian citizens and members of various organizations.
In the end, we managed to reach the required number and even exceeded it – we collected over 604,000 signatures requesting a referendum on Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone. The formal criteria of bourgeois legislation were met.
Neither we nor the ruling class had any doubts about the possible results of such a referendum. The vast majority of Bulgarians were and remain opposed to joining the eurozone. That is why we did everything possible to ensure that such a referendum took place, while those in power did everything possible to prevent it.
It was all a theatrical performance, and the Constitutional Court declared the referendum question “illegal.” Months of intense struggle followed to defend the people’s right to be heard on this extremely important issue. Various protests and demonstrations were held. Tens of thousands of people attended some of the largest ones in the capital. Some of them led to arrests, and for the first time in many years, we had political prisoners in Bulgaria.
Despite the enormous efforts of the opponents of the euro over the past few years, on January 1, 2026, Bulgaria joined the eurozone. It would be foolish and wrong to deny that this represents a defeat for the people’s struggle and resistance on an issue of exceptional importance for the country. The consequences of this are already apparent: the definitive loss of financial sovereignty for the country, galloping inflation (since the summer of 2025), the impoverishment of the already poor working class, even greater power for European corporations, etc.
Nevertheless, we cannot ignore the fact that, thanks to serious anti-imperialist resistance over the past few years, this defeat for the people in this battle came at a very high price for the comprador ruling elite. Firstly, the undemocratic nature (even from the point of view of bourgeois democracy) of the modern capitalist system became obvious to a large part of the masses. In the 1990s, capitalism was sold to the people as “democracy” and “power to the people,” in contrast to socialism, which was presented as an “undemocratic dictatorship.” It became clear to everyone that Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone was against the will of the majority of Bulgarians and only because of the will of an aggressive and arrogant minority, which owes its power in Bulgaria only to the backing of its Western overlords.
Second. It is now obvious to many people who really holds power in our country. If 10 or 15 years ago a relatively small group of us held the belief that after 1989 Bulgaria had become a semi-colony and a raw materials appendage of Western corporations, the situation is now completely different. The popularity of NATO and the EU is constantly falling in the eyes of the people. There is a demand for alternatives to the current system and, above all, to the country’s geopolitical orientation.
Third. The ruling class in Bulgaria has proved to be incapable of managing processes of such a scale as the transition to the eurozone. Brutal inflation began to torture our people as early as the summer of 2025, when it became clear that Bulgaria would join the monetary union. No measures or regulations were able to control it. Despite the repeated promises that the state authorities would do everything possible to ensure that prices would remain the same, even in many public institutions, after January 1, 2026, service fees became double. Although, by law, from January 1, 2026, all stores had to give change only in euros, across the country, people continue to pay and receive change only in leva. This is not only a sign of protest, but mainly due to a banal lack of euros. This is happening less than two weeks before the lev is finally taken out of circulation. Chaos prevails, and prices continue to rise.
Fourth. Thanks to the dedicated and active participation of the “September 23” Movement in the struggle against Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone, communist symbols and ideas began to come out of the marginality. As you know, the restoration of capitalism in 1989 was followed by difficult years for communists across Eastern Europe. In many countries, the advocacy of communist ideas and even the use of communist symbols is prohibited by law. The situation in Bulgaria is no better in this regard. Now, however, we have reason for optimism and we are seeing positive change. More and more people, especially young people, are responding to our calls for class struggle and the abolition of capitalism.
Fifth, and perhaps most importantly. During the resistance against Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone, strong ties were established between anti-imperialist-minded people and organizations. Different groups, espousing different principles, worked together for months in the name of the people’s struggle. All this will be of great benefit in the upcoming anti-imperialist struggles in our country. The conditions have been created for building a broad front against imperialism and its institutions and servants.
Overall, we can conclude that Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone will have lasting consequences for the Bulgarian people. Processes have been launched whose results will be seen in the future. The defeat of the people in this battle will turn into a victory in the overall struggle against imperialism and its servants in Bulgaria. The road is long and difficult, but the objective course of history cannot be stopped with petty tricks and legal falsifications. Everything is in the hands of the people and their ability to organize and defend their interests. Because when the people are united and organized, there is no force that can stop them.
About the Author
