Why did protests over electricity prices and corruption lead Boiko Borisov to resign in 2013?

In early 2013, the government of Prime Minister Boiko Borisov faced a wave of increasingly violent public demonstrations, which represented the most significant expression of popular unrest in Bulgaria since the fall of communism.12

These protests were primarily driven by widespread public frustration regarding the country's rising unemployment and endemic poverty, which had persisted despite the administration's focus on austerity measures. The situation reached a breaking point due to two specific factors:12

• Electricity Prices: A sharp hike in the cost of electricity placed an immediate financial burden on the public.12
• Corruption: The government faced mounting scandals related to political corruption, which exacerbated existing public anger over the state of the economy.12

Faced with this intense civil pressure, Borisov resigned in February 2013, leading to the appointment of a technocratic caretaker administration and subsequent snap elections.12