site.btaSuch Referendum Would Go against Constitution, EU Law and National Referendum Legislation, PM Says

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov believes that a referendum proposal such as the one for the timing of the euro changeover, announced by President Rumen Radev last week, would violate the Constitution and the national referendum legislation, as well as the EU law. "Considering all the arguments that have been raised [against the referendum proposal], the President could reconsider his intention," Zhelyazkov said.

Bulgaria is hoping for accession to the eurozone in 2026. Ad-hoc reports on Bulgaria's readiness for that - one by the European Central Bank and one by the European Commission, are due in June 2025. 

President Radev said his proposal for the referendum question would be "Do you agree to have Bulgaria adopt the single European currency euro in 2026?".

The head of State is expected to submit his proposal to Parliament later on Monday. 

Zhelyazkov said, "I urge Parliament not to consider this anti-constitutional proposal for a euro referendum. I also urge President Rumen Radev to reconsider his intention on the matter." He also questioned the true motives of the President and hypothesized that the real goal is not the holding of a referendum but rather an effort to destabilize European institutions' stance on the upcoming convergence reports, so that Bulgaria does not join the eurozone in 2026. This is perhaps one of the goals - not only of the President but also of a part of society that has been exposed to a serious hybrid pressure, as well as of businesses that prefer to avoid transparency, the Prime Minister pointed out.