Bulgaria's Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov stepped down after protests led by Gen Z demonstrators angry about corruption and dysfunction in their government. The young people mobilized through TikTok and brought down the sixth leader in five years, making it the first European government toppled by this generation. President Rumen Radev, a former pilot who has criticized Western support for Ukraine, could benefit from the chaos and might form his own party for the upcoming elections.
The protests started over budget proposals that raised taxes but expanded into broader complaints about how entrenched elites keep power through corruption. About 70% of Bulgarians backed the movement, and protesters showed up with memes and videos mocking officials. Martin Vladimirov from a Sofia think tank said younger Bulgarians who never experienced communism have had enough of the status quo.
The resignation happens right before Bulgaria joins the eurozone, which will still go forward, but leaves the country without stable leadership during the transition period.
The protests started over budget proposals that raised taxes but expanded into broader complaints about how entrenched elites keep power through corruption. About 70% of Bulgarians backed the movement, and protesters showed up with memes and videos mocking officials. Martin Vladimirov from a Sofia think tank said younger Bulgarians who never experienced communism have had enough of the status quo.
The resignation happens right before Bulgaria joins the eurozone, which will still go forward, but leaves the country without stable leadership during the transition period.
