Former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, known for his critical stance towards the European Union and advocacy for improved relations with Russia, celebrated a significant electoral win on Sunday as his party emerged victorious in the latest parliamentary elections, marking the eighth such event in five years.
According to estimates from various polling organizations, Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria (PB) party secured approximately 44% of the votes, which would provide them with a commanding majority of at least 129 seats in the 240-member parliament.
Bulgaria, the European Union’s least affluent member state, has experienced a series of governmental changes since 2021 when anti-corruption protests led to the fall of the conservative administration under pro-European leader Boyko Borissov.
At 62 years old, Radev stepped down earlier this year after serving as president for nine years and ran on a platform focused on combating corruption.
Projections indicate that PB significantly outperformed Borissov’s GERB party and the liberal coalition of PP-DB, both of which garnered around 12% of the vote. Official final results are anticipated to be released no sooner than Monday.
“PB has achieved a clear victory—a triumph of hope over skepticism, a win for freedom over fear,” Radev stated to the media outside his party’s office in Sofia.
He emphasized that Bulgaria would strive to remain on its European trajectory, while also asserting that a robust Bulgaria and a resilient Europe require critical thinking and pragmatism. He noted that Europe has been hindered by its own aspirations to be a moral leader in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Radev has expressed his intention to dismantle what he termed the “oligarchic governance model” affecting the nation of 6.5 million. He supported last year’s anti-corruption demonstrations that ousted the most recent conservative government.
“Everything needs to change,” said Stiliana Andonova, a retired engineer, after voting in Sofia, identifying “the judicial system” and “corruption” as pressing issues.
Boryana Dimitrova from Alpha Research described Radev as an “unequivocal winner” in the elections, highlighting his decisive performance.
In response to the election results, Borissov, who has been a dominant figure in Bulgarian politics for nearly a decade, congratulated Radev but cautioned that winning an election is distinct from effective governance.
Borissov, 65, refuted claims that Radev offers anything “new,” while promoting his party’s strong pro-European stance, which includes backing for Ukraine and the EU.
Having served as president for nine years, Radev has since transitioned to lead the new center-left coalition Progressive Bulgaria. Following his vote in Sofia, he called for the establishment of a “democratic, modern, European Bulgaria” and expressed hopes for “practical relations with Russia, grounded in mutual respect and equality.”
Radev criticized a recent ten-year defense agreement between Bulgaria and Ukraine, which has been engaged in a conflict against Russia since 2022. He has also opposed sending military supplies to Ukraine, although he stated he would not veto EU decisions regarding this matter.
Voter turnout for the elections surpassed 50%, the highest level since April 2021, as reported by Dobromir Zhivkov, director of the Market Links agency. This participation was notably higher compared to the dismal 39% turnout in the previous elections, reflecting widespread public distrust in the political system.
Political parties had urged citizens to participate in the elections to mitigate the effects of vote-buying. In the weeks leading up to the election, law enforcement agencies seized over €1 million (approximately £870,000) in operations targeting alleged vote-buying schemes, resulting in the detention of hundreds of individuals, including local officials and mayors.
