Disinformation, corruption and hope: Youth perpectives in Bulgaria

Welcome to our new podcast series, "REACHing Citizens," part of the "Reshaping Engagement through Affirmative Citizen Consultations (REACH)" project. Launched in 2024, this initiative is funded by the European Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) and brings together organisations from across Europe, including Serbia, Belgium, Kosovo, BiH, Bulgaria, France, Croatia, and Greece. In this first episode, we take you to Bulgaria, where we hear from Giulia-Maria Alberghi, a university student and participant in one of the citizen consultations in Plovdiv. She shares her insights on the challenges of democratic engagement in Bulgaria, focusing on the rule of law, media independence, and the role of critical thinking in the fight against disinformation. Join us as she talks about important topics and explore how civic participation can pave the way for positive change in Bulgaria. Interviewer: Daniela Mineva, Senior Analyst, Center for the Study of Democracy, Bulgaria Citizen: Giulia - Maria Alberghi, University Student of Philosophy, Politicacs and Society, University of Radboud, the Netherlands (nationality: Bulgarian), participant in the citisen consultation in the city of Plovdiv Giulia-Maria Alberghi emphasized that, in her view, the rule of law is the most critical of the three discussed topics. She highlighted Bulgaria's ongoing struggle to elect a stable government, with no resolution even after seven consecutive elections. Voter participation continues to decline, reflecting a broader erosion of trust in democratic institutions. Citizens increasingly distrust the media and question the independence of the Bulgarian judiciary. Giulia noted that while numerous legal and institutional reforms have been implemented under pressure from the European Union, these changes have failed to produce tangible benefits for ordinary people due to pervasive corruption. She referenced the widespread protests in Bulgaria during 2020-2021, pointing out that the grievances that fueled these demonstrations remain unresolved today. Another significant issue raised by Giulia was the lack of investigative journalism in Bulgaria. She explained that mainstream media often avoid publishing investigative reports, largely because of ownership ties to authoritarian or corrupt individuals. While social media provides an alternative platform for journalists, she shared instances where journalists using platforms like YouTube have faced threats. Additionally, both journalists and the public encounter challenges in accessing public data. Giulia also addressed the pervasive lack of critical thinking among the population, noting that people of all ages are susceptible to disinformation and propaganda. This contributes to widespread misunderstandings on topics like the Green Deal and the Euro. The absence of official fact-checking mechanisms on social media further exacerbates the problem. Despite these challenges, Giulia highlighted a positive aspect: many people are eager to discuss political issues. She urged civil society organizations (CSOs) to harness this interest by fostering dialogue and engagement. Platforms like Discord, for instance, host numerous groups dedicated to political discussions. In conclusion, Giulia-Maria Alberghi called for greater efforts to promote citizen discussions and consultations, education, and awareness-raising to address these pressing issues effectively.