The President has signed the proposal to hold a referendum for the euro

Minutes ago, the Presidency press center announced that Rumen Radev had signed the proposal to the National Assembly for a national referendum with the question « Do you agree to Bulgaria to introduce the unified European currency » Euro « in 2026? ». The proposal and the motives for it have already been submitted to parliament.

Parliament is about to get acquainted with the reasons and then decide how to rule on the request of the Head of State. Parliament Chairman Natalia Kiselova has already explained that the reasons will be considered in the Parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance, as well as in the Legal Affairs Committee. The decision will then be in the plenary, and a simple majority is required to accept it.

« Diary » reproduces Rumen Radev’s motives, which are almost identical to his speech from Friday (May 9) when he proposed a referendum:

According to the signed accession agreement to the European Union, the Republic of Bulgaria has made a commitment to accept the unified European currency. The attachment contract does not specify an explicit time limit for the introduction of the euro.

On June 4, 2025, an extraordinary convergence report on our country’s readiness to enter the euro area will be announced. With a positive result, Bulgaria will join the euro area on 01.01.2026.

There is no consensus in Bulgarian society about our willingness to introduce the Unified European Currency, nor for the date on which this happens. The assessments of all levels in society are contradictory: among citizens, in the expert community and in the political class. Sociological studies make it clear that the majority of Bulgarian citizens are highly reserved towards the change of national currency at the moment.

The governing requested an extraordinary convergent report on our willingness to enter the euro area without holding a comprehensive information campaign and a thorough debate to familiarize society with both the positives and the real risks and consequences of our country’s entry into the euro area without the necessary readiness. The lack of clear organization and convincing actions by the responsible institutions for the protection of the purchasing power of citizens and the competitiveness of the economy create tension around the process of introducing the euro.

Instead, the attention of Bulgarian citizens was offered an advertising campaign that failed to convince the society of our willingness to take this step.

As a president, I am convinced that the introduction of a single European currency can and should be with a convincing national consensus, with the internal conviction of people, and not with a neglectful disregard for their will. Every Bulgarian citizen has the right to rule on his money and well -being.

National currency, one of the symbols of statehood, is an integral and important part of national security and national sovereignty. According to Art. 1, para. 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria, any part of the people, a political party or other organization, a state institution or individual may be able to assign the implementation of national sovereignty. Therefore, in the current situation of lack of sufficient clarity on the willingness to change the national currency, in the abandonment between public attitudes and institutions, the will of the people as sovereign should be fulfilled. This will should be established by producing a national referendum.

The referendum will be a test for the democracy of the 51st National Assembly. He will show who accepts the principles of democracy and who refuses the Bulgarians the right to determine their future.

The referendum will be healing for Bulgarian democracy. It will give the word to people and allow all arguments to be heard. It will enable the political class to restore dialogue with voters and fight for their trust. Trust that has lost in recent years.

Last but not least, the referendum, regardless of its result, will contribute to the development of a national consensus on the topic of the willingness to introduce the euro and will prevent the consequences of decisions taken without the support of the majority of Bulgarian citizens.

Such a referendum will not be a precedent. Other Member States of the European Union have already produced national surveys on the introduction of the euro. A number of countries adopted in the EU before Bulgaria and with significantly better economic indicators continue to retain their national currency until public consensus is reached.

In accordance with the powers given to me by the Law on the Direct Participation of Citizens in the State Power and the local self -government on the grounds of Art. 10, para. 1, item 2 I submit to the National Assembly a proposal for the production of a national referendum with the question: « Do you agree to Bulgaria to introduce the unified European currency » Euro « in 2026? »