[Bulgaria] Protests: Peaceful protest

Summary

Single-source ACLED detection — awaiting independent verification. Restaurant industry workers and managers staged peaceful protests in Simitli, Bulgaria on April 9, 2025, demanding the government reduce VAT taxes for their sector to 9%. The demonstration was triggered by potential tax increases to 20%, with protesters seeking a return to coronavirus-era reduced rates.

Supply chain impact

No commodities or chokepoints are directly mapped to this event. Second-order effects would be minimal given the localized nature of the protest and its focus on domestic tax policy rather than production or transportation infrastructure.

Watch points

• Monitor for broader industry participation if protests spread beyond Simitli to other Bulgarian cities
• Track government response to VAT tax demands, as policy changes could influence restaurant supply purchasing patterns