Caring for the Child, Caring for the Family: The Clash over the National Strategy for the Child (2019–2030) in Bulgaria.

The article examines the public opposition in Bulgaria to the National Strategy for the Child (NSC) 2019–2030, focusing on how narratives of "family," "childcare," and "child protection" were mobilized by conservative far-right non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and concerned citizens during the 2019 public debate. It highlights the distinct but overlapping discourses of these groups: NGOs framed themselves as defenders of traditional Bulgarian families against liberal EU policies and LGBT influences, while citizens primarily expressed distrust of state intervention and perceived threats to parental rights, rarely emphasizing gender or LGBT issues. Central to the opposition is a "narrative of return" to traditional, patriarchal family models tied to Bulgarian national identity, which clashes with the Strategy’s child-centred approach and expanded state role in child protection. The mobilization reflects broader anti-gender and anti-liberal sentiments intertwined with ethnonationalism and skepticism toward global institutions, ultimately leading to the withdrawal of the Strategy amid mass protests.