The removal of Maria Tsantsarova, host of the political talk show “This Morning” on bTV, Bulgaria’s leading television channel, has sparked public protests and widespread concern over political pressure on the media, amid the country’s ongoing political turmoil.
According to local media, Tsantsarova was informed on Friday that she would no longer continue in her role. Her co-host, Zlatimir Yochev, was also removed. The decision prompted journalists and citizens to gather outside bTV’s headquarters in Sofia, expressing solidarity with the two journalists.
Tsantsarova is widely regarded as a critical and independent voice toward political leaders in Bulgaria. Media organizations warned that her removal could signal a dangerous trend:
“We are concerned about the risk of yet another ‘emptying of chairs’ — the removal of critical voices — from Bulgaria’s national airwaves,” said the Association of European Journalists Bulgaria, urging bTV’s management to act in line with the public interest and freedom of speech protections.
The controversy unfolds during a period of deep political instability, following the resignation of Bulgaria’s coalition government last week, after one of the largest waves of anti-government protests in the country’s recent history, less than a year after taking office.
Protesters outside bTV carried cups reading “Time to make a real change,” referencing a symbol recently used by Tsantsarova during a live broadcast.
In response, bTV denied that the journalists had been dismissed, stating that the company is “in dialogue with Maria Tsantsarova” and discussing future programming options with her involvement in the new year.
Neither Tsantsarova nor Yochev has commented publicly on the situation.
The incident comes as Bulgaria’s media freedom ranking continues to decline. The country dropped from 59th to 70th place in the 2025 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) index.
“Press freedom is fragile and unstable in one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the European Union. The few independent media in Bulgaria are under pressure,” RSF stated in its latest report.
