"Bulgarian police fired tear gas at thousands of protesters in Sofia during a rally led by the opposition coalition 'We Continue the Change', angered by steep tax increases in next year’s draft budget, demanding the immediate resignation of government officials. Footage from Monday night's protest shows riot police deploying tear gas, as protesters responded by burning garbage and blocking roads with dumpsters. Fire trucks arrived as debris, damaged office equipment, and vandalised police vehicles lined the roads near the GERB party office. The protesters then continued marching towards the government buildings, chanting for the resignation of the government as banners reading 'Generation Z is coming - Young Bulgaria Without Mafia' waved among the crowd. Opposition leader Asen Vasilev called on government officials to step down, declaring, "Their time is finally over. Resign! Resign!" Businessman Marian Kolev voiced raw frustration, saying, "We hate you for free, don’t you understand? How many times do we have to tell you, you nasty bastards?!" "The greatest future of this protest will be determined by this Gen Z - these young people, students and even schoolchildren, who will build their own country for themselves," said lawyer Velislav Velichkov, praising the growing role of youth in the movement. Students, content creators and artisans also joined the rally alongside politicians addressing social divides.  “The truth is that the only division in our society is between the thieves and the robbed. And we are the robbed,” said content creator Mimi Shishkova.   Actor Alek Alexiev energised the crowd, saying the power of the people gathered cannot be stopped. "They should fear us," he added. The protest comes as the Balkan country prepares to join the eurozone next year, reflecting broad concern over a budget that raises social security contributions and doubles the dividend tax.  Despite opposition from social groups and economists who warned of major risks, the budget is expected to pass thanks to the ruling coalition's solid majority. The budget sets record spending at nearly 46 per cent of GDP, which is funded largely through higher taxes and a sharp increase in public debt."