On December 12, 2025, Prime Minister of Bulgaria Rosen Zhelyazkov resigned after protesters took to the streets in cities across the country and filled the centre of the capital Sofia in the night of December 11. Between 50,000 and 100,000 people turned out in Sofia’s central Triangle of Power and Independence Square, calling for the Government to go. The words “Resignation” and “Mafia Out” were projected onto the Parliament building. Protesters accused Rosen Zhelyazkov’s Government, led by the centre-right GERB [an acronym for Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria] party, in power since January 2025, of widespread corruption. The Government had already scrapped a controversial budget plan for next year, in response to demonstrations the previous week.
A series of protests had started on November 26, 2025, following the announcement of the 2026 budget, which would have raised the individual contributions to pension and social-security programs, resulting in tax increases. The protests led to the suspension and later withdrawal of the budget, but protests continued, demanding the resignation of the Government and new elections. They were backed by President Rumen Radev, who had also called on the Government to stand down.
The resignation of the minority coalition, led by the GERB party, was announced minutes before Parliament was scheduled to vote on a no-confidence motion tabled by the opposition over economic mismanagement, and supported by growing public anger at widespread corruption. “Ahead of today’s vote of no confidence, the government is resigning,” Prime Minister Zhelyazkov told reporters in Parliament. Further, in a TV address, Zhelyazkov stated, “We hear the voice of citizens protesting against the Government. Both young and old have raised their voices for [our resignation]. This civic energy must be supported and encouraged.” A statement on the Government website added that Ministers would continue in their roles until a new Cabinet was elected.
This mass protest was attributed to ‘Gen Z’, as more and more young people began taking to the streets. For many, this was their first protest. The anger was obvious on social media, where topics such as democracy, corruption in Bulgaria, low wages for young doctors (who are leaving the country en masse) and the lack of Press freedom began trending. High-profile singers, actors and influencers began calling on people to show their discontent and take part in the protest.
At the core of the protesters’ frustrations is the role of Bulgarian politician and oligarch Delyan Peevski, who has been sanctioned by both the United States and the United Kingdom, and whose MRF New Beginning party backs the Government. Peevski has been accused by opponents of helping shape Government policy in line with oligarchic interests.
The 2024 Transparency International report ranked Bulgaria as the second-most corrupt country in the European Union (EU), only behind Hungary. Bulgaria is, moreover, the EU’s poorest country, according to the European statistics report.
Bulgaria is also one of the EU’s most politically unstable members, with the country heading to the polls seven times since 2021, to elect a Parliament that has been hamstrung by a series of unstable coalitions, led by multiple centrist and right-wing parties.
Gen Z protest appear to be a consolidating force in global politics, with a ruling Government already toppled in Nepal in September 2025. As Bulgaria is due to make the switch from its national currency, the Lev, to the Euro on January 1, to become the Eurozone’s 21st member, other Balkan countries also run the risk of Gen Z protest. Serbia had earlier witnessed massive, sustained “Serbia against Violence” protests in May 2023, led by students and young people, following mass shootings. While President Vu?i?’s government survived, they had forced major concessions, including the resignation of key Ministers and the annulment of controversial election results in Belgrade, demonstrating significant destabilizing power. Mass protests by Gen Z, fuelled by social media, have also been recorded in 2025 in other countries, including Morocco, Kenya, Madagascar, Peru, Indonesia, Philippines, Timor Leste, and Togo. Protestors toppled the Sheikh Hasina Government in Bangladesh in 2024, and the Gotabaya Rajapaksa Government in Sri Lanka in 2022.
With Bulgaria became another success story for the Gen Z protesters, multiple high-risk states are lie within the European Union’s periphery, where a similar blend of conditions exists: systemic corruption, high youth emigration, and a disaffected, digitally-savvy generation. Romania is the closest analogous case, with a strong history of anti-graft protests. Hungary and Slovakia are also at significant risk due to sharp generational divides over illiberal governance and EU futures. The broader western Balkans – including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania – represent fertile ground.