The demonstrations, which began in November, were sparked by a proposed 2026 budget that included higher social security contributions and generous bonuses for public officials and security forces. Critics said the plan would shift financial burdens onto the private sector to strengthen government control over public institutions.
Zhelyazkov acknowledged the pressure from demonstrators, saying, “Young and older people from different ethnic groups have spoken and called for our resignation. We are listening to this civic energy.”
President Rumen Radev is now expected to begin talks with parliamentary parties to form a new government. If no agreement is reached, a caretaker cabinet will be appointed to lead the country until snap elections—which have already been held seven times since 2020.
The protests, the largest in 30 years, drew support from 71.3% of Bulgarians, according to a Myara poll. Demonstrations took place in Sofia as well as other major cities, including Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, and Veliko Tarnovo.
Young Bulgarians—many of whom organized through TikTok and Instagram—were the driving force behind the movement. Popular protest slogans included “Gen Z will get you” and “Give us a reason to stay,” referencing the country’s ongoing emigration crisis.
Deutsche Welle noted that Generation Z is the first in Bulgaria not to have personal memories of communism or the 1990s economic collapse, making them more politically active and focused on transparency, healthcare, and job opportunities.
Protesters have also directed their anger at former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and media mogul Delyan Peevski, who is under U.S. and UK sanctions. Peevski’s DPS-NN party supports the current minority coalition.
Social media has played a major role in the movement’s growth. Balkan Free Media Initiative reported that nearly half a million Bulgarians engaged with protest-related content on TikTok after December 1—70 times more than during previous demonstrations.
“Memes are a fast way to share an idea,” said online creator Andrea Banda Banda. “For the first time, so many influencers have joined the protest conversation.”
(jh)
Source: PAP, Euronews