Bulgaria's Youth Sparks Change: Budget U-Turn After Massive Protests

In a surprising turn of events, Bulgaria's government has decided to pull back its 2026 budget plan. This move came after a series of large-scale protests, mostly led by young people. The demonstrations were so big that they were the largest in ten years. The biggest protest happened on a Monday. Reports say between 50, 000 and 100, 000 people showed up in Sofia, the capital. The mood was peaceful, but things took a turn after the crowd left. A small group of troublemakers, who weren't part of the main protest, started throwing things at police. They also set fire to trash cans and damaged police cars. The government made the announcement about withdrawing the budget proposal in a press release. They said the Council of Ministers suggested this to the National Assembly. This shows how powerful public opinion can be, especially when young people get involved. It's interesting to see how protests can lead to real changes. The government's quick response shows they were paying attention. But it also raises questions about why the budget was so controversial in the first place.