Former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has won a decisive victory in the country’s eighth parliamentary election in five years, positioning himself to become prime minister and potentially ending years of political instability.
With 98.3 percent of ballots counted, Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria party secured 44.7 percent of the vote, putting it on track to win approximately 130 of the 240 seats in parliament — a result that far exceeded pre-election polls and exit surveys showing around 44 percent support.
The win sidelines the long-dominant GERB party, led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, which garnered just 12.5 percent according to exit polls conducted by Sofia-based Alpha Research, marking one of the weakest showings in decades for a force that has governed Bulgaria on and off since 2009.
Radev, a 62-year-old former air force commander, stepped down as president in January to run on a platform promising to dismantle what he calls Bulgaria’s “oligarchic governance model,” a pledge that resonated with voters weary of corruption and repeated political crises.
In 2025, he backed anti-corruption protests that helped topple the government of former Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and during the campaign urged high turnout to counter allegations of vote-buying, a persistent concern in Bulgarian elections.
At a rally the week before the vote, Radev pledged to “remove the corrupt, oligarchic model of governance from political power,” framing his candidacy as a break from entrenched interests that have fueled public distrust.
His foreign policy stance, however, has drawn sharp attention across Europe. While Radev publicly condemned Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, he has opposed sending military aid to Kyiv and instead advocated for restoring “practical relations with Russia based on mutual respect and equal treatment.”
For more on this story, see Bulgarians vote in eighth election as Rumen Radev seeks to end political chaos.
He objected to a 10-year defence agreement between Bulgaria and Ukraine signed in March and has called for resuming Russian energy imports to Europe, despite EU sanctions and a bloc-wide commitment to end Russian energy imports by 2027.
Critics have labeled him pro-Russian, a charge Radev rejects, insisting his approach is pragmatic. In an interview with Bulgarian journalist Martin Karbovski, he emphasized Bulgaria’s unique identity as the EU’s only Slavic and Eastern Orthodox member state, arguing it could serve as a vital bridge to Moscow.
Following the election, the Russian government congratulated Radev on his victory, welcoming what it framed as a shift toward more constructive bilateral ties.
The scale of Radev’s win raises the possibility of Bulgaria’s first stable, single-party-led government in years, potentially ending a cycle of fragmented coalitions and frequent elections that have hampered governance since 2021.
Analysts note that securing a working majority — whether outright or through coalition partners — would allow Radev to govern without the constant threat of collapse that has defined recent administrations, though his ability to deliver on domestic reform promises remains untested.
Internationally, his election introduces uncertainty into Bulgaria’s alignment within NATO and the EU, particularly if his push to normalize relations with Russia gains traction amid ongoing Western efforts to isolate Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
For now, the immediate focus shifts to government formation, as Radev seeks to translate his electoral mandate into a governing agenda that balances voter demands for accountability with the complex geopolitical realities of Bulgaria’s position on NATO’s southeastern flank.
What does Radev’s victory imply for Bulgaria’s government stability?
His party’s strong showing makes it possible to form a stable government without relying on fragile coalitions, potentially ending years of frequent elections and legislative gridlock that have weakened public institutions.
How might Radev’s foreign policy affect Bulgaria’s role in NATO and the EU?
While he has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, his opposition to military aid and push to restore ties with Moscow could create friction with NATO allies and EU partners, though any shift would depend on his ability to implement policy within coalition constraints and institutional frameworks.
