Russia-friendly Radev sweeps Bulgaria's election

FE Team | Published: April 20, 2026 21:32:19

SOFIA, Apr 20 (Reuters): When Rumen Radev stepped down from his role as president of Bulgaria in January to run in Sunday's parliamentary election, he urged voters to ditch the "corrupt officials, conspirators and extremists" that he said were running the country.
Bulgarians responded by handing the former fighter pilot the single biggest vote haul in a generation. The outcome will allow Radev to head Bulgaria's first single-party government in nearly three decades, and paves the way for greater political stability after eight elections in five years.
Radev, 62, described the result as a "victory of hope over distrust, a victory of freedom over fear".
It was also the result of good timing by Radev, who had served as Bulgaria's ceremonial head of state for nine years.
Since a political crisis erupted in 2020, he sat above the parliamentary mess, appointing caretaker governments when needed, and gradually amassing influence, just as veteran parties in parliament were mired in shaky coalition-building.
Radev, who espoused pro-Kremlin talking points during his campaign, has opposed military aid for Ukraine in its war against Russia, and criticised Bulgaria's adoption of the euro in January, has waited years for this moment.