The Bulgarian government backs down after mass protests against corruption

Sofia"I'm getting ready for the protest. We have no idea what's going to happen; they might resign," explained Tsvetozar, a young Bulgarian in his thirties, on Wednesday as he headed to Parliament, where young people had called for what they hoped would be the biggest mobilization of the decade. Less than 24 hours later, their wish came true. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announced the resignation of his government, a three-party coalition led by conservatives that had been in power for less than a year, in the country's lower house on Thursday. Yesterday's protests brought together tens of thousands of people who demanded the resignation of the government, which they accuse of corruption. "We have listened to the voice of society," stated the prime minister, who announced his resignation shortly before a vote of no confidence against the government, the sixth since he took office on January 15. Wednesday's demonstration was the third in just a few days called by the pro-European opposition party PP-DB against the government, a coalition of the conservative GERB party, the Bulgarian Socialist Party, and the populist ITN. Bulgaria—which will join the eurozone in January—has been mired in political instability for years and has held seven elections since 2021. The protest movement began on December 1, when tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest the 2026 budget, announced days earlier; a draft that included cuts to social spending, increased taxes on the self-employed and small businesses, and a lack of measures to combat inflation and corruption. Due to the public outcry—which culminated in clashes and arrests that same day—the government backtracked and canceled the budget's implementation. However, this "has been a turning point for Generation Z," explains Teodora, also from Sofia. "Every day more of us are joining this movement, and I believe that together we can achieve results." It's no longer just about budgets: what young Bulgarians are demanding, supported by a social majority that hadn't mobilized in over a decade, is an end to corruption and a government that has "held the state hostage."

Corruption Accusations

Control of the country has been in the hands of the coalition formed by the conservative populists of GERB, the pro-Russian socialists, and the nationalists of Existen Tal Poble—with the support of oligarch Delyan Peevski's A New Beginning party—since last year, when the populists won the parliamentary elections with 24% of the vote.

The ruling party, GERB, and its longtime leader, Boyko Borisov, have faced a long list of corruption allegations for years. Among the most notorious cases are Borisov's arrest in 2022—later declared illegal due to procedural errors—scandals involving the mismanagement of European funds, irregularities in major infrastructure contracts, and the release of recordings and photographs showing bundles of cash and gold bars. Added to this are allegations of cronyism, opaque party financing, and persistent criticism of the lack of independence of the judicial system, which has fueled a perception among Bulgarian society of structural corruption and impunity in the highest echelons of power.

Not surprisingly, Bulgaria is ranked as the second most corrupt country in the European Union, surpassed only by Hungary, according to Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index. "We started protesting because we are fed up with the corruption in our country; we want a future in our country. If we don't stop these corrupt parties now, they will completely take over the country and ruin our future. We hope that everything can change if we remain united no matter what, but unfortunately, previous generations have shown us that nothing has changed over the years; on the contrary, the situation has worsened."

Convictions for corruption

But Borisov isn't the only one blamed for this situation; Delyan Peevski, a business magnate and leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms—part of the governing coalition—is the name most frequently associated with the protests demanding his resignation. Peevski has been linked for years to scandals involving control of media conglomerates, alleged networks of political and economic patronage, and accusations of undue influence over state institutions. In 2021, he was sanctioned by the United States under the Magnitsky Act for "significant corruption," which reinforced his image as an emblem of the untouchable elite.

"The fact that Delyan Peevski is a Magnitsky sanctioned member of Parliament should tell us enough about how flawed the system is. Of course, he's not the only problem, but he's probably the biggest. We mustn't forget Boyko Borisov, who is also to blame for how things work in the country, and for those close to him," Teodora analyzes.

For this generation of young people, tired of the same old corrupt politicians, these names represent what they call a "hijacked state": an informal network of power in which oligarchs and politicians influence public decisions without accountability. Now, Bulgaria's Generation Z doesn't intend to give up. The goal is clear and is displayed on the banners piling up outside Parliament: "End the Borisov-Peevski model." "After so many years of corruption, oppression, lies, and false promises, we young people must regain hope and show the world that there is light at the end of the tunnel if we stay united. This time we won't stop until they're gone," Teodora affirms with conviction.