In a dramatic shift for European politics, the newly formed Progressive Bulgaria (PB) party, led by former President Rumen Radev, has secured a massive victory in the parliamentary elections held on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
With 100% of the votes counted, Radev’s party has garnered 44.59% of the vote, putting it on track to secure an outright majority with approximately 130 to 131 seats in the 240-seat National Assembly.
This result marks a historic turning point for Bulgaria, ending years of political fragmentation and potentially resetting the country’s relationship with both the European Union and Russia.
Rumen Radev, who stepped down from the presidency in January 2026 to launch his bid for Prime Minister, campaigned on a platform of “hope over fear” and promised to dismantle the “oligarchic model” that he claims has fueled corruption in the country.
However, it is his foreign policy stance that has drawn the most international attention. Known for his eurosceptic views and opposition to military support for Ukraine, Radev has openly called for a resumption of dialogue with Moscow and the return of Russian oil and gas supplies to Europe.
His victory comes just months after Bulgaria officially adopted the euro in January 2026, a move that Radev had previously criticized during his campaign. The traditional powerhouses of Bulgarian politics suffered significant losses in the wake of PB’s surge.
The center-right GERB-SDS bloc, led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, finished a distant second with just 13.3% of the vote, followed closely by the pro-Western We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition at 12.6%.
The turnout for the election was recorded at 48.5%, reflecting a public eager for stability after eight snap elections in just five years.
As Radev prepares to form a government, the European Union is watching closely, fearing that Bulgaria’s new leadership could create a pro-Russian fissure within the bloc’s united front.
