Bulgaria - December 2025

More than 100,000 people rallied in Sofia on 10 December, demanding the government’s resignation after weeks of youth‑led protests against corruption and political impunity. The so called ‘Gen Z protests’ grew into Bulgaria’s largest in decades, powered by strong youth participation and social‑media mobilization. The protests began in late November in response to the 2026 draft budget, which proposed higher capital income taxes and social security contributions and was widely seen as an attempt to conceal deeper corruption. Even after the government withdrew the proposal on 2 December, it had already become a symbol of broader governance failures. On 11 December, the protests led to the resignation of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov.

Sources: Euronews, Radio Free Europe (1), Radio Free Europe (2), Deutsche Welle (1), Deutsche Welle (2), BTV