Olga Stoyanova-Encheva
In late 2025, Bulgaria witnessed a dramatic surge of public mobilization that would shake its political foundations. Mass protests, driven by deep frustration over corruption, unpopular fiscal policies, and widespread dissatisfaction with political elites, drew tens of thousands of citizens into the streets of Sofia and other cities across the country. These demonstrations challenged the government’s legitimacy and ultimately forced Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov to step down in mid‑December 2025. The events laid bare the delicate and often fragile balance that defines democracy in conditions of institutional stress – and raised urgent questions about how emerging democracies can be preserved when that balance is disrupted.
Bulgaria’s political life vividly illustrates the delicate and often fragile balance between democratic stability and instability. It shows how quickly public trust in formal political institutions can erode when citizens perceive persistent corruption, unresponsiveness, or failures in governance. When such confidence diminishes, the pressure exerted by an engaged populace can create intense stress on governmental structures, sometimes leading to sudden and dramatic institutional shifts, such as the resignation of a sitting government. At the same time, these very episodes of civic mobilization reveal an underlying resilience within the democratic system: they demonstrate that when people feel their voices matter, they are willing to organize, protest, and demand accountability. It underscores that instability is not always a sign of democratic failure; rather, it can be a mechanism through which societies renegotiate legitimacy, reinforce civic norms, and reaffirm the principle that governance is ultimately accountable to the people. The recent events in Bulgaria thus serve as both a cautionary tale and a hopeful example: while democratic institutions may be stressed under intense social and political pressure, active citizen engagement can act as a stabilizing force, reminding governments that their authority is contingent upon public trust and participation.
In the aftermath of the cabinet’s resignation, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev also chose to resign from his office in January 2026, a historic first in the country’s recent political history. His decision was reportedly motivated by his intention to enter electoral politics and form a new political party ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. Radev’s resignation was formally approved by the Constitutional Court, and under the Bulgarian Constitution, his powers were assumed by Vice President Iliana Iotova, who became the interim head of state and Bulgaria’s first female president. President Iotova subsequently appointed a caretaker government, led by interim Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, with the key task of organising new snap parliamentary elections scheduled for April 19, 2026. This caretaker cabinet has pledged to ensure conditions for fair and transparent elections in a highly fragmented political landscape, still reverberating from months of public protests and institutional strain. The repeated cycle of elections - this will be the eighth parliamentary vote since 2021 – underscores both the resilience and the deep challenges facing Bulgaria’s democratic system in a period marked by political realignment and civic mobilisation.
In line with this process, up to March 4, 2026, all parties and electoral coalitions have the opportunity to register with the Central Election Commission in preparation for the elections. This registration period represents a critical step in Bulgaria’s democratic procedures, allowing new political formations, including initiatives led by former President Rumen Radev, to participate and ensuring that the elections proceed according to legal and institutional requirements. It also highlights the active role of political actors in shaping the upcoming electoral contest, reflecting the broader civic engagement that has characterized Bulgaria’s recent political landscape.
The protests themselves were driven in part by controversial budget proposals and broader concerns about corruption and economic governance. They mobilized a diverse cross‑section of society, including many younger citizens who see democratic participation as not just a right, but a responsibility. These demonstrations, alongside the registration of political parties, illustrate the dynamic interplay between citizen activism and institutional processes that defines democracy in fragile conditions.
What does this mean for the preservation of democracy in fragile conditions? First, it underscores that democratic stability is not simply a matter of institutional design, but of continuous engagement – by citizens, by civil society, and by political leaders willing to listen. Second, it reminds us that democratic systems must be responsive to popular concerns, especially in times of economic stress and political polarization. Finally, it shows that moments of crisis can also be moments of opportunity – opportunities to re‑examine, re‑engage, and recommit to democratic principles.
As Bulgaria prepares for another critical electoral moment this spring, these themes – accountability, participation, resilience – are not just academic concepts but lived realities shaping the nation’s democratic path forward.
Olga Stoyanova-Encheva is Senior Lecturer at the Department of National Security and Political Sciences, St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo.
