Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria Party Wins Landslide Election Bulgaria’s former president Rumen Radev has secured a decisive victory in the country’s parliamentary election, positioning himself to become the next prime minister. His newly formed Progressive Bulgaria party won 44.7 percent of the vote, securing a majority of seats in the 240-seat parliament and marking the first time since 1997 that a single party can govern alone. With nearly all ballots counted, Radev’s party is projected to win approximately 135 seats, far ahead of rival parties. The center-right GERB party, led by former prime minister Boyko Borisov, came in second with 13.4 percent of the vote, whereas the liberal PP-DB coalition followed with 12.8 percent. Radev, who served as Bulgaria’s president from 2017 to 2026, resigned from office in January to launch his campaign. A former Bulgarian Air Force major general, he positioned himself as an outsider seeking to dismantle what he described as the country’s “oligarchic governance model.” His message resonated with voters frustrated by years of political instability, corruption, and frequent elections—this being Bulgaria’s eighth parliamentary vote in five years. In his victory speech, Radev thanked the public for their trust and pledged to build “a strong Bulgaria in a strong Europe.” He emphasized the require for critical thinking, pragmatic action, and tangible results, particularly in shaping a new European security architecture and revitalizing the continent’s industrial competitiveness. Analysts note that Radev is viewed as a pragmatic leader with a pro-Russian inclination, having criticized EU sanctions on Russia and advocated for dialogue with the Kremlin. While he opposes Bulgarian military support for Ukraine, experts suggest he is unlikely to block broader EU assistance to Kyiv, favoring compromise over confrontation—similar to the approach of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico rather than the more confrontational stance of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán. The election outcome ends a cycle of fragile coalitions and offers the prospect of more stable governance. Still, questions remain about how Radev’s foreign policy will affect Bulgaria’s role within the European Union and NATO, especially given his calls for a recalibration of Western policy toward Russia.
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