Radev Wins Bulgaria in Landslide as Pro-Russian Turn Sparks EU Questions

Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria wins a landslide in parliamentary elections, ending years of instability, with coalition talks and EU-Russia policy questions now ahead. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied (FILES) Then Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev leaves the press conference after announcing his resignation in Sofia on January 19, 2026. (Photo by Nikolay DOYCHINOV / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Pro-Russian former President Rumen Radev has won Bulgaria ’s parliamentary election in a landslide, according to official results released on Monday, April 20. According to Reuters , Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria party secured 44.7% of the vote after 91.7% of ballots were counted, far ahead of its nearest rivals – the pro-European We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition with 13.2%, and the long-dominant GERB party led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov with 13.4%. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . The result , which exceeded opinion poll forecasts, marks one of the strongest performances for a single party in Bulgaria in decades and could end a period of political instability that has seen eight elections in five years. While the outcome suggests Progressive Bulgaria could govern alone, Radev has not ruled out forming a coalition with pro-European or smaller parties. “This is a victory of hope over distrust, a victory of freedom over fear, and finally, if you will, a victory of morality,” Radev said at a press conference late Sunday. Radev’s campaign drew comparisons with Hungary’s pro-Kremlin former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, as he advocated improving ties with Moscow and resuming the flow of Russian oil and gas into Europe. He also criticized the European Union’s reliance on renewable energy. However, the extent to which Radev may shift Bulgaria’s foreign policy remains unclear. Other Topics of Interest Lukashenko Threatens West, Ukraine: Belarus Will Use ‘Everything,’ Russia to Join if Attacked Lukashenko warned Western neighbors and Ukraine against “aggression,” saying Belarus would respond with all available means. On Sunday, Radev said he would work with PP-DB on judicial reform and pledged that Bulgaria would “make efforts to continue on its European path.” As per Reuters, analysts do not expect him to reverse the country’s adoption of the euro or block broader EU aid packages to Ukraine. Despite steady economic development since the fall of communism in 1989 and EU accession in 2007, Bulgaria continues to lag behind other EU members in several areas. The rising cost of living, particularly after joining the eurozone, has become a major concern, contributing to the fall of the previous government amid protests over tax increases and higher social security contributions. “The country’s main challenge is the economic crisis and the demographic crisis,” said Tihomir Bezlov, a senior fellow at the Centre for the Study of Democracy in Sofia. “There do not seem to be many ideas in the winning camp on either of these issues,” he added. Radev has previously advocated closer ties with Russia. His victory was welcomed cautiously in Moscow, as per Reuters . Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was encouraged by Radev’s stated willingness to resolve issues through dialogue. “We are, of course, encouraged by the words of Mr. Radev… regarding their readiness to resolve issues through dialogue,” Peskov said, while cautioning that it would be premature to draw broader conclusions about a shift in Europe’s political climate. As RBC-Ukraine media outlet reports, Bulgaria has been in a prolonged latent political crisis for years. The current elections are the eighth in the past five years. The country remains deeply politically divided, while its main parties are unwilling to compromise and often do not trust one another, making parliamentary coalitions highly unstable. Radev served as president from 2017 to 2026, during most of this crisis period. However, Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic, where the government holds the main executive powers. As a result, Radev had limited authority to directly resolve the political deadlock, while formally remaining above partisan confrontation. This positioning helped him maintain relatively high public trust, making him one of the few Bulgarian politicians with a consistently positive approval rating. In January this year, he left the presidency early and launched a new political party. His movement, “Progressive Bulgaria,” draws support from left-leaning rural voters, many of whom hold pro-Russian sentiments or nostalgia for the socialist past. At the same time, it has also attracted voters disillusioned with mainstream parties after years of political instability, the report notes. During his presidency, Radev opposed military aid to Ukraine, arguing that Bulgarian weapons deliveries would not alter the situation on the battlefield. He also criticized a recently signed security agreement with Ukraine, concluded by the interim Bulgarian government. However, the report notes that while in office, Radev demonstrated political flexibility and did not consistently challenge the positions of the EU and NATO. Instead, he often used his Eurosceptic rhetoric for political leverage, bargaining and gaining domestic political advantage while still making compromises when necessary. For example, in October 2022, at the Bucharest Nine summit, he refused to sign a joint declaration supporting Ukraine because he disagreed with language on its future NATO membership. At the same time, his administration clarified that he supported all other parts of the document, including Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Later, at the European Council summit in December 2022, Radev threatened to veto a new EU sanctions package against Russia if it included restrictions on nuclear fuel exports and called instead for a focus on ceasefire negotiations. In the end, however, he supported the final document. Julia is a Deputy Head of News and correspondent for Kyiv Post who has previously worked as a parliamentary editor, journalist, and news editor. She has specialized in covering the work of the Ukrainian parliament, government, and law enforcement agencies.