English
Kostadin Kostadinov, leader of the Bulgarian nationalist party “Revival” (Vazrazhdane), called on the Bulgarian Parliament to declare the Macedonian language as a dialect of the Bulgarian. The nationalist call comes after a Macedonian volleyball player answered questions to Bulgarian journalists in English.
Kostadinov has previously asserted from the parliamentary podium on several occasions that Macedonian is not a distinct language, but rather that the dialects spoken in Macedonia are part of the Bulgarian linguistic sphere. Official transcripts from the Bulgarian Parliament also record his statements claiming that the Macedonian language “does not exist.” However, any potential decision by Bulgarian institutions cannot alter the constitutional and international status of the Macedonian language in Macedonia. The Bulgarian Parliament can only regulate how Bulgarian institutions handle this matter.
A broader initiative for a Law on the Bulgarian Language, submitted by Kostadinov and MPs from “Revival” on May 28, 2026, has already been registered with the Bulgarian National Assembly. The proposal has been reviewed by several parliamentary committees, including those for education, culture, foreign affairs, and human rights. As of now, no specific new legislative text has been published in the publicly accessible register—dating from September 11 or otherwise—that would formally define the Macedonian language as a dialect.
“Revival” is an opposition, nationalist, and Eurosceptic party and is not part of the Bulgarian government. Therefore, Kostadinov’s views should not automatically be equated with the official position of the Bulgarian executive branch. For years, Kostadinov has advocated the view that Macedonia is a “second Bulgarian state,” while characterizing the Macedonian language as a Bulgarian dialect. The Macedonian language is a codified standard South Slavic language and the official language of Macedonia; Kostadinov’s political claims do not alter its constitutional status.