[Bulgaria] Protests: Peaceful protest

Summary

Single-source ACLED detection — awaiting independent verification. Restaurant industry employees and managers held peaceful protests in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria on April 9, 2025, demanding the government reduce VAT tax for their sector to 9% amid concerns that rates could rise to 20%, potentially impacting industry profits.

Supply chain impact

No commodities or chokepoints are directly mapped to this event; second-order effects depend on how the situation escalates and whether similar protests spread to other economic sectors.

Watch points

• Monitor for expansion of protests to other cities or economic sectors beyond hospitality
• Track government response to VAT tax demands and any policy announcements affecting business costs