ALDE Party President Svenja Hahn MEP will participate in a march and rally for a Stronger Bulgaria in a Stronger Europe tomorrow in Sofia, Bulgaria, ahead of important early parliamentary elections this weekend, the eighth in five years.
These latest elections were caused with the fall of the previous coalition government following the largest protests in modern Bulgarian history in December 2025 organised by ALDE member party We Continue the Change in their call for financial responsibility, ending corruption, and defending the rule of law. Over 100,000 young people gathered in Sofia alone, alongside demonstrations in 25 cities across Bulgaria and Europe.
Inspired by the success of the opposition forces in Hungary this past weekend and demonstrating that democracy and protest can prevail, liberal forces are positioning themselves as a decisive actor with We Continue the Change campaigning on tackling endemic state corruption, EU cooperation and judicial reform.
The We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria coalition has a full slate of candidates for this election including many faces from the protests. 121 MPs are needed to form a majority in the next parliament. You can read about them here.
Earlier this week, Renew Europe President Valérie Hayer visited Bulgaria and said:
“Sunday’s election is one of the most decisive in Bulgaria and Europe in years. The stakes are high to rebuild a strong Bulgaria in a strong Europe. To defeat corruption, to bring back rule of law and to restore independent justice. Trust in institutions, in elections, in the idea that your vote actually changes something real - that is what is being tested. Hungary has shown that every vote counts. I believe in Bulgarians to turn out and vote for their future anchored in the heart of Europe.”
We Continue the Change party leader and former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Assen Vassilev, is proposing a new anti-crisis package to prevent serious poverty among citizens after protests reflected serious discontentment. Without slogans and empty populist talk, he recently delivered a lecture about what could happen to Bulgaria with change and how a poor country can become rich, despite crises and corruption.
“Last year, the entire Bulgarian people took to the squares with one task. They said the government should fall, let's go to new elections and once and for all end Borisov and Peevski,” he said.
With elections in Hungary showing the promise of fighting against illiberal and autocratic forces, all eyes will be on this critical election.