Pro-Russian Rumen Radev Wins Election in Bulgaria

Results whitethorn springiness Radev an outright bulk successful the 240-seat parliament. Credit: EPA/BORISLAV TROSHEV via AMNA

The pro-Russian erstwhile president of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, won the parliamentary elections according to the latest results from Sunday’s poll.

Results bespeak that Progressive Bulgaria (PB), a conjugation led by Radev, has emerged arsenic the wide front-runner. With implicit 60% of ballots counted, the conjugation is projected to unafraid astir 45% of the vote, perchance giving them an outright bulk successful the 240-seat parliament.

Who is Rumen Radev?

Rumen Radev (born 1963) is simply a erstwhile Bulgarian Air Force wide and combatant aviator who served arsenic the President of Bulgaria for 9 years (2017–2026).

In January 2026, Radev made the historical determination to resign from the mostly ceremonial presidency—the archetypal specified resignation successful Bulgaria’s post-communist history—to signifier the Progressive Bulgaria enactment and contention the parliamentary election.

Radev is wide viewed arsenic a left-leaning populist and an Eurosceptic. He has campaigned connected a level of anti-corruption, promising to dismantle the “oligarchic governance model” that galore Bulgarians judge has hindered the nation’s progress.

His overseas argumentation views person been a taxable of important planetary debate. He has opposed providing nonstop subject assistance to Ukraine and has advocated for rebuilding applicable diplomatic and economical relations with Russia, citing Bulgaria’s unsocial presumption arsenic a Slavic and Eastern Orthodox EU member.

The predetermination follows months of wide anti-corruption protests and a bid of fragmented parliaments that person struggled to signifier unchangeable governments since 2021. Many voters are weary of the chronic governmental situation and anticipation that a Radev-led authorities volition bring the stableness needed to code issues specified arsenic systemic corruption and economical development.

The runner-up parties, including the wide We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) and the blimpish GERB party, person faced important losses, reflecting a large displacement successful the Bulgarian governmental landscape.

Related: Bulgaria Adopts the Euro: How Will it Affect Greece? – Greek Reporter