Corruption and political instability are not confined to any one geography, governance structure, or level of development. A look at three very different countries — Bulgaria in Europe, Nigeria in West Africa, and Nepal in South Asia — illustrates this point.

Bulgaria’s political cycle has entered a phase where caretaker governance is no longer exceptional. Since 2021, repeated elections, fractured coalitions, and unresolved corruption disputes have prevented durable parliamentary majorities. With another election scheduled for 19 April 2026, the nomination of Andrey Gyurov as caretaker Prime Minister comes at a moment when institutional fatigue and public distrust define the country’s political equilibrium. The current crisis tra