Bulgaria faces disinformation, political turmoil, and security threats amid elections and cyberattack concerns.
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The current caretaker government’s foreign policy chief warned that Bulgaria is frequently targeted by disinformation campaigns due to its location near the Western Balkans, the Black Sea, and the war in Ukraine. The previous Bulgarian government resigned last December amid EU-aligned anti-corruption protests, which were followed by character assassination campaigns against opposition activists. The country is currently led by a caretaker government while preparing for elections, a process complicated by domestic scandals, including criticism that the temporary government joined Donald Trump’s Peace Council without authorization, which opponents claim is unconstitutional and destabilizing. Furthermore, the discovery of six bodies in Bulgaria’s northern mountainous region sparked various theories regarding the murders, with opposition voices asserting that the state failed to protect a strictly protected nature reserve. Disinformation waves also circulated on social media concerning these killings, affecting both past and present governments. In this tense climate, parties preparing for elections fear another cyberattack series similar to those seen during Romanian presidential elections. Concerns are heightened by the European Commission’s ongoing investigation into interference, particularly on TikTok, related to a previously invalidated election in Romania, though no results have been announced; two Romanian MEP representatives called this delay “unacceptable.” The Bulgarian government is expected to seek the European Commission’s help against hybrid attacks before the elections.
