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Former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev secured an outright majority in parliamentary elections, according to near-complete results Monday, a development that could end years of political instability in the country.
With 91.7% of votes counted, Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria grouping won 44.7%, putting it on course to secure around 130 seats in the 240-member parliament, according to official data.
The result marks the first time since 1997 that a single political force has won an outright parliamentary majority in Bulgaria.
The European Union’s poorest member has held eight elections since 2021, when anti-corruption protests toppled the conservative administration of former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.
Radev, 62, who stepped down earlier this year after nine years as president, campaigned on an anti-corruption platform and drew support from a broad voter base, with turnout reaching its highest level since 2021.
Borissov’s GERB party secured 13.4% of the vote, closely followed by the liberal Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria coalition at 13.2%.
The nationalist Vazrazhdane party and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), representing Turkish and Roma minorities, also entered parliament.
Under Bulgaria’s Election Code, final vote totals and seat distribution must be announced within four days, with the names of elected lawmakers published within seven days.
Sunday’s vote marked the country’s eighth parliamentary election since 2021.
“PB has won unequivocally, a victory of hope over distrust, a victory of freedom over fear,” Radev said Sunday as results emerged.
He said Bulgaria would “make every effort to continue on its European path,” while calling for a more pragmatic approach within the European Union.
“But believe me, a strong Bulgaria and a strong Europe need critical thinking and pragmatism. Europe has fallen victim to its own ambition to be a moral leader in a world with new rules,” he added.
Radev has pledged to dismantle what he describes as an “oligarchic governance model” in the Balkan nation of 6.5 million people and previously backed protests that led to the collapse of the last government.
Analysts say his decisive win raises expectations for meaningful reforms.
While Radev can govern alone, political analyst Teodor Slavev said the key question is whether he will take “real steps” to tackle high-level corruption, including reforms of the judiciary.
He will still need broader parliamentary support for constitutional or judicial changes requiring a two-thirds majority.
Radev is expected to face pressure over Bulgaria’s foreign policy direction, particularly regarding relations with the European Union and Russia.
Daniel Smilov, a political scientist at the Center for Liberal Strategies, said Radev could face internal and external pressure to adopt a more “eurosceptic” approach.
“His initial signals are that he will pursue a pro-European policy and will not block the EU... The whole question is whether those signals will actually be followed through,” Smilov told AFP.
Ahead of the vote, Radev called for “practical relations with Russia, based on mutual respect and equal treatment.”
He also criticized a recent 10-year defense agreement between Bulgaria and Ukraine and opposed sending arms to Kyiv, although he said he would not veto EU decisions.
Borissov congratulated Radev but cautioned that governing would be more challenging than winning elections.
“Winning elections is one thing, governing is another,” he said, while highlighting his party’s “extremely pro-European position.”
Voter turnout exceeded 50%, the highest since April 2021, following a drop to just 39% in the 2024 elections amid widespread distrust in politics.
“Everything simply has to change,” said Stiliana Andonova, a retired engineer, after casting her ballot in Sofia, citing concerns over corruption and the judiciary.
Authorities stepped up efforts to curb vote buying ahead of the election, seizing more than €1 million ($1.18 million) in recent police operations and detaining hundreds of individuals, including local councilors and mayors.
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