Comment by Atanas Shtilyanov, "Unruly Bulgaria", student at the University of Maastricht:
Politicians don't just govern – they shape society. They create role models. They educate the young. They dictate the rules, draw the boundaries, and the people absorb their example. When they demonstrate arrogance, aggression and impunity, this becomes the poisonous example.
Our parliament has become like a menagerie.
How did we get here?
Because we allowed them. Because there is no retribution. In true democracies, institutions strike mercilessly at corruption and violence, the media tear apart lies, and society explodes in anger and goes out to vote en masse. In Bulgaria, control mechanisms have been crushed. Politicians threaten, spit insults, clench their fists – and this becomes law.
I speak from personal experience. As an associate of independent MP Kaloyan Metodiev in the 50th National Assembly, I saw parties like “Vazrazhdane“ scream, sneer, swear and sow hatred. Dozens of beatings, scuffles, brawls. DPS-New Beginning spit (literally), pour out threats. Today, mandate holder Boyko Borisov shakes his head that when he was sad, he became very dangerous. Aggression from everywhere!
What will be the result? The children absorb it. Students are insulted and beaten because the deputies do it too. Aggression is rampant on the streets, in schools, in our homes. Violence is becoming the norm. Lies – into dogma. Corruption is being written into law.
This is not an illusion, but the cruel reality that is unfolding before our eyes. We see it in the news every day. In Pazardzhik, girls are beating up their classmate. In Burgas, students are fighting in the mall. In Sofia, teenagers are organizing mass fights. These are not isolated cases. This is a culture of violence that is born from above and seeps down.
We must not remain silent! We must not crawl in fear. We must not allow mediocrity to rule us. As long as we are passive, the aggressors will reign. As long as we bow our heads, we will be crushed. Only by being rebellious can we overcome what is overwhelming and suffocating us as a society. Change does not wait. It starts with us. Personal example is not just important. It is decisive.
It is time for action.