Bulgaria’s pro-Kremlin ex-president wins election, Russia and EU welcome victory
Former president's party wins 44.7% of vote, crushing pro-European rivals and potentially realigning Bulgaria toward Moscow.
Pro-Russian former President Rumen Radev has secured a decisive victory in Bulgaria's parliamentary election, with his Progressive Bulgaria party capturing 44.7% of the vote according to nearly complete results. This landslide performance—far exceeding opinion poll forecasts—represents one of the strongest results for a single party in a generation and crushes the pro-European We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria coalition (12.8%) and the long-dominant GERB party (13.4%). The win may temporarily end the chronic political instability that has plagued Bulgaria, leading to eight elections over the past five years.
Radev, a Eurosceptic former fighter pilot who stepped down from Bulgaria's largely ceremonial presidency in January, campaigned on frustration with corruption and veteran parties. He has been openly critical of military support for Ukraine's war effort against Moscow and the European Union's heavy reliance on renewable energy. The victory in this EU and NATO member state of 6.5 million people represents a significant geopolitical shift, potentially pushing Bulgaria closer to Moscow's orbit while creating new challenges for Western unity in supporting Ukraine.
- Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party won 44.7% of votes, potentially allowing it to rule alone
- The result crushes pro-European rivals PP-DB (12.8%) and GERB (13.4%) after 97.52% of ballots counted
- Victory may end eight elections in five years but shifts EU/NATO member toward Moscow
Why It Matters
A key EU and NATO member state potentially realigning toward Moscow could fracture Western unity on Ukraine support.