On Bulgarian Protest Wave III

This morning on national television (bTV) we discussed the ongoing mass protests in Bulgaria. Here are a few key points for an international audience:

1️⃣ Mass protests in Bulgaria are strong and effective.
It is the responsibility of political parties to respond to the energy and voices coming from the streets.

2️⃣ This may be the fastest protest “success” in the Balkans – but success needs time to be assessed.
Government resignations can also function as safety valves, allowing ruling elites to regroup rather than transform the system.

3️⃣ Responsibility should not be placed solely on “Gen Z.”
This is a collective effort that spans generations.

4️⃣ Young people can use this moment to build sustainable civic movements.
We are good at mass mobilization; the real challenge is sustaining civic activism over time.

5️⃣ A political party?
Those who believe they are ready to change the system from within should step forward. But in my view, the cornerstone remains a strong and sustainable civil society that reacts whenever the common good is violated.