Alpha Research sociologist Boriana Dimitrova and political analyst Atanas Radev commented to BTA on the triggers of public discontent and the influence of civil society on political decisions.
Violence against 18-year-old Debora Mihailova from Stara Zagora (South Central Bulgaria) in late June triggered a wave of protest rallies across the country. On August 7, Parliament broke off its summer recess to adopt tougher punishments for bodily injury and ensure better protection of domestic violence victims.
Boriana Dimitrova: Any form of violence has been causing ever stronger public reactions. The good thing about the Debora case - if there ever is one - is that more victims will dare to speak out. The public reaction is the first barrier to violence, especially when the institutions fail to react.
The Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria government coalition reacted quickly because part of it is closely linked to the protest movements in recent years, particularly ones protecting individual rights and judicial reform. If it had not taken a stand on the case quickly, it would have lost some of its raison d'etre and would have alienated many supporters.
The important takeaway from these events is that as long as politicians without a future and manipulators with a future dangle threats like "genderism" or a "third gender", people will die from very real problems - violence on the roads or at home, drugs, etc.
Over the years, civil society has rallied round various issues - pollution, overbuilding, road accidents, the protection of people with disabilities, health, justice. At the same time, many meaningful local associations have been set up to work on a specific issue and support people through charity initiatives, volunteering and help in their contacts with institutions. The problem is that these efforts rarely become visible. In the wake of the Debora case, the media have been highlighting at least three cases of violence every day, while in the three months preceding it there was almost nothing. The same is true about victims of road accidents or drugs. We live from one scandal to another. No matter how much civil society is activated, no significant change will take place without a change in the work of institutions and without mechanisms of control and accountability.
Atanas Radev: The Debora case is a good example of civil activism. It showed that civil society is a pillar of democracy and when it blows the whistle on a problem, politicians must act.
The fact that the MPs broke off their holiday to revise legislation shows that politicians were frightened somewhat by the civic activism, which could grow into serious protests with political demands. The protests of early 2013 were about electricity prices and were triggered by social issues.
Civil society is activated by a sense of injustice. The case in Stara Zagora gained publicity a month after the court was supposed to step in and resolve it. One of the biggest problems of the Bulgarian society is how an institution resolves people's relationships. It became evident in recent weeks that society has an intolerance for the lack of a proper response from the institutions and for violence.
The protests in recent years have been triggered by conflicts in society. A new generation of active citizens is emerging and much of the political elite has also changed. Civil society organizations are also an important factor as they support and build the capacity of civil society and bring wrongdoings to light.
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