‘Did We Do That?’ Gen Z Protesters Help Tip Balance Against Bulgaria’s Leaders

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Lara Jakes and Boryana DzhambazovaDecember 12, 2025 at 08:38 PM

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AI Summary

long article 4 min

In Bulgaria, mass protests fueled in part by Gen Z's social media activism contributed to the resignation of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and the collapse of the government in December 2025. Young Bulgarians, mobilized through platforms like TikTok and Instagram, protested against government corruption and political instability, marking the first time a European government was unseated by this global movement. The protests, which saw high engagement on political issues, surprised many young participants who questioned their impact. Bulgaria has experienced seven general elections in the past four years. It remains to be seen whether this newfound political energy will translate into higher voter turnout and a more stable government in future elections.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Konstantin Tuzharov 60% Rosen Zhelyazkov ×270% Bulgaria ×480%

Keywords

gen z 100% protests 90% bulgaria 90% government collapse 70% political instability 70% social media 60% elections 60% anti-government protests 50% young voters 50%

Sentiment Analysis

Positive

Score: 0.30

Source Transparency

Source

New York Times - World

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.30)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Bulgaria

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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gen z protests bulgaria government collapse political instability social media elections anti-government protests young voters

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