Former President Radev Projected Winner in Bulgaria Election

Bulgarians voted on Sunday in parliamentary elections that appear set to install former President Rumen Radev as the winner, according to exit polls, in what many hope will break the political deadlock that has paralyzed the EU's poorest member state for years. Radev's Progressive Bulgaria coalition is projected to win around 32 percent of the vote, more than double the roughly 18 percent projected for former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's pro-European GERB party, which had led Bulgaria's last government before it resigned in December following nationwide anti-corruption protests. The election is Bulgaria's eighth in five years, underscoring the deep political instability that has plagued the country since Borissov's government was toppled in 2021. Radev, a 62-year-old former air force general who served as president from 2017 until January 2026, cast his ballot in Sofia urging Bulgarians to vote in high numbers as "the only way to drown vote-buying in a sea of free votes." He has pledged to dismantle what he calls the "oligarchic mafia" governing model and to develop what he describes as balanced relations between East and West, including practical ties with Russia based on mutual respect. While Radev has officially condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and says he would not use Bulgaria's veto to block EU aid to Kyiv, he has been critical of sending military assistance to Ukraine and opposes the EU's green energy policies. Borissov, who served as prime minister for 12 years before resigning, sought to frame his party as a guarantor of Bulgaria's European alignment, stating that GERB gives "full support to Ukraine," though he ruled out entering any coalition government, saying he does not "see who we can enter a coalition with." The fragmented results present a formidable challenge for any would-be government, with the liberal PP-DB coalition, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, and the ultranationalist Vazrazhdane party all expected to secure seats in parliament. Turnout reached approximately 40 percent by closing time, a modest improvement from the 39 percent who voted in 2024 but still reflecting widespread voter fatigue. The EU has activated its Rapid Response System in Bulgaria, deploying online censorship tools to remove alleged disinformation from social media during the election, mirroring measures taken in Hungary, France, Germany, Moldova, and Romania in recent votes. Bulgaria joined the eurozone on January 1 and recently entered the border-free Schengen travel area, yet the country remains mired in a governance crisis that many analysts believe Sunday's vote will fail to resolve.