Court and prosecutor's office staff across Bulgaria protested against the draft 2027 budget. It would raise pay by only 5% and limit clothing allowances. On Monday, justice minister Nikolay Naydenov invited representatives of magistrates and court staff to a meeting.

The protests carry the name "The Invisible Ones in the Judicial System". They back a national petition against the draft budget, started by staff of the Sofia District Prosecutor's Office.

In Haskovo, court staff held a symbolic protest. They want decent treatment and recognition for their daily work.

Under the Judicial System Act, staff get money for clothing, which for many is a large part of their yearly income. In Varna, staff are unhappy about low pay and the planned loss of this money. In Pazardzhik, staff also complained about low pay and the end of the extra clothing funds.

In Sofia, protesters from courts and prosecutors' offices gathered outside the building that houses the Sofia District Prosecutor's Office and the Sofia District Court. They set out empty chairs to show that their places will stay empty if the budget passes with the planned pay.

In Burgas, Pernik and Plovdiv, people came out during the lunch break. In Plovdiv, court staff and colleagues from the prosecution administration stood outside the Palace of Justice and the prosecutor's office without stopping work. They asked for fair pay. In Pernik, staff of the District, Regional and Administrative courts and of the District and Regional prosecutor's offices protested. In Burgas, different units and levels of court administration took part.

Staff in Blagoevgrad gathered outside the Palace of Justice. Dimitar Zotev, court administrator at the Regional Prosecutor's Office, said the protest is a voluntary initiative by staff and that magistrates support them too. He said new hires start on pay close to the minimum wage, while the responsibilities in the system are "huge".

In Vratsa, magistrates and staff of the Regional, District and Administrative courts and of the prosecutor's office said the proposed rule affects their professional status and the independence of the judiciary. In Veliko Tarnovo, protesters said they reject populism and attempts to turn public opinion against the judiciary. They also object to setting wages against social payments.

Staff in Kyustendil, including court secretaries, clerks, process servers, archivists, statisticians, IT specialists and court managers, said their work demands precision, responsibility and professionalism under great pressure. In Pleven, Ivaylo Tsvetkov, a court employee at the Regional Court, said staff are unhappy about the 5% pay rise and a change to social security rules, under which the split between employer and employee becomes 60 to 40.

In Stara Zagora, Kamen Yordanov, an employee of the Regional Court, said: "The Supreme Judicial Council has asked for funds that have been cut heavily." He said there is also talk of mass job cuts in the bodies of the judiciary.

Emil Enchev, deputy regional prosecutor and spokesman for the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Razgrad, said the work of court staff often goes unnoticed, even though they are on call around the clock. In Silistra, protesters asked for a real and lasting rise in basic monthly pay, in line with their qualifications.

In Ruse, staff and magistrates gathered outside the Palace of Justice in the town centre. In Vidin, protesters stood outside the prosecutor's office and said they stand with the Sofia District Prosecutor's Office. In Gabrovo, staff and magistrates from the regional and district prosecutor's offices came out in front of the Palace of Justice over the draft state budget for next year. There were also protests in Kardzhali and Razgrad. In Targovishte, people asked for fair pay and for staff to be kept on. Magistrates, judges and prosecutors there backed them, and people signed the national petition for decent work on the spot.

Court staff in Yambol joined their colleagues' demands. All court staff in the area of the Regional Court have signed the petition there.