Bulgaria will not return to the lev after adopting the euro, according to Michaela Dotsova, a newly elected MP from former President Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party.

Speaking on Nova News, Dotsova described any idea of changing national currency twice within six months as economically reckless. "It is frivolous to change any currency in six months," she said.

Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026 after decades on a fixed exchange rate under the currency board arrangement with the lev.

No debate on currency reversal

Dotsova said there is no realistic scenario in which Bulgaria could abandon the euro and restore the lev. "There is no possibility" of discussing a return to the old currency, she stated.

She reminded viewers that the referendum proposed by Radev during his presidency was never about whether Bulgaria should adopt the euro, but only about the timing of its introduction.

For British residents and businesses, the explicit ruling out of currency reversal signals continued eurozone stability. Bulgaria's adoption of the euro means British expats and companies no longer face exchange risk when dealing with Bulgarian counterparties, and any return to the lev would have reintroduced currency volatility and banking complications after just six months.

EU and NATO membership non-negotiable

Progressive Bulgaria has never questioned Bulgaria's place in the European Union or NATO, according to Dotsova. "Bulgaria is a member of the EU and must remain so, as a worthy partner that participates steadily in the decision-making process," she said.

She framed active participation in European institutions as a matter of national responsibility rather than political choice. "We are part of the big European family and part of the big NATO family," Dotsova added, saying she had not heard anyone propose Bulgaria's removal from NATO.

British defence and diplomatic interests remain aligned with Bulgaria's continued NATO membership, particularly given the country's position on the alliance's southeastern flank and its role in regional security cooperation post-Brexit.

Judicial reform urgent priority

Dotsova said one of the first tasks of the new parliament should be judicial reform. She called for new rules governing the election of members to the Supreme Judicial Council and the Inspectorate from the parliamentary quota, followed by the appointment of a new Prosecutor General.

"Restoring trust in the judiciary requires quick and decisive action immediately after the National Assembly is constituted," she said.

Dotsova noted there are visible signs of institutional rearrangement within the judiciary and the Prosecutor General's office. Independent verification of these reforms was not available at the time of publication.

For British investors and residents, judicial independence and rule-of-law standards remain critical concerns. The European Commission has repeatedly raised governance issues in Bulgaria, and any credible reform effort affects legal certainty for foreign businesses and expats navigating Bulgarian courts or administrative processes.

Vote buying prosecutions need follow-through

Dotsova acknowledged visible police and Ministry of Interior activity in combating vote buying during the recent election, but said stronger results are still needed. The next key step must come from the prosecutor's office, she said.

According to Dotsova, evidence gathered during pre-trial proceedings involving those detained for vote buying must be strong enough to survive in court and lead to actual charges and convictions, not just police operations.

Vote buying has been flagged as a persistent problem in multiple OSCE election observation reports on Bulgaria. The exact number of prosecutions and convictions has not been disclosed. Independent verification of prosecution outcomes was not available at the time of publication.

State protection review and party structure

Asked about state security provided to GERB leader Boyko Borissov and DPS leader Delyan Peevski, Dotsova noted that legal mechanisms already exist for reviewing whether such protection remains necessary. Details of current protection arrangements have not been publicly disclosed.

She defended Radev personally, describing him as having a strong sense of state responsibility. "Rumen Radev has proven that he is a statesman-minded and quite democratically thinking person," she said.

Dotsova added that within Progressive Bulgaria, decisions are made collectively through internal dialogue rather than imposed from above.