Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria Wins Bulgaria Snap Election, Securing Majority in 240-Seat Parliament

Bulgaria’s snap parliamentary election produced a decisive result for Rumen Radev, with multiple outlets describing his Progressive Bulgaria party as set for a landslide and potentially a majority in the 240-seat parliament.

“Bulgaria’s former President Rumen Radev hailed a “victory of hope” after preliminary official results showed his coalition had won the country’s parliamentary election”

Al Jazeera

CNN reported that Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria had 44.6% of the vote after 60% of ballots were counted, while it placed the We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition at 14.2% and the long-dominant GERB party led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov at 13%.

Al Jazeera

BBC said that with 87% of the vote counted, Progressive Bulgaria (PB) had secured a majority of at least 135 seats in the 240-seat parliament, beating PP-DB at 15% and GERB at 13%, according to the commission.

Al Jazeera reported that Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria had won 44.7 percent of the vote with 91.7 percent of ballots counted, putting it on course to govern alone, and it placed PP-DB at 13.2 percent and GERB at 13.4 percent.

The Spokesman-Review described a projection by polling firm Alpha Research putting Progressive Bulgaria heading for an outright majority with 129 seats in the 240-strong chamber and Radev on track to secure 44% of the vote.

In Sofia, Radev framed the result as a moral and political reset, telling reporters, “This is a victory of hope over distrust, a victory of freedom over fear, and finally, this is a victory, if I may say so, of morality,” according to the BBC and echoed by other outlets.

The election was also described as Bulgaria’s eighth general election in five years, with the BBC calling it “the eighth general election in five years” and the AP noting “Bulgaria's eighth five years — a longtime political impasse.”

Multiple reports tied the election to Bulgaria’s recent cycle of instability and protests, describing how the previous government fell after attempts to push through a controversial budget and how Radev supported the mass demonstrations.

BBC said the election was called after the previous government tried to push through a controversial budget in December, prompting mass protests which Radev, as president, supported.

AnewZ

CNN similarly described that Radev stepped down from the presidency in January to run in the parliamentary election after mass protests forced out the previous government in December.

Al Jazeera said Bulgarians cast their ballots on Sunday for the eighth time in five years after mass protests led to the removal of the previous conservative government in December last year.

The AP added that the snap vote followed the resignation of a conservative-led government amid nationwide protests last December that drew “hundreds of thousands, mainly young people, to the streets,” and it said protesters called for “an independent judiciary to tackle widespread corruption.”

The Spokesman-Review described the country’s political deadlock since anti-graft protests five years ago that ended Borissov’s dominance, and it said the election was Bulgaria’s eighth general election since 2021.

In the campaign, Radev positioned himself as a break from the old order, with the AP quoting his rallies vow to “remove the corrupt, oligarchic model of governance from political power.”

Radev’s victory immediately drew reactions that underscored the election’s foreign-policy implications for Europe, with the Kremlin responding to his call for dialogue with Moscow and EU leaders offering public signals.

“Rumen Radev's party wins Bulgarian election Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party has won Sunday's Bulgarian election - the eighth general election in five years”

BBC

The Guardian reported that the Kremlin said it was “impressed” by Radev’s words about pragmatic dialogue with Moscow, quoting Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov: “Of course, the words of Mr Radev ... as well as some other European leaders about their readiness to resolve problems through dialogue, appeal to us.”

The Guardian also quoted the European Council president António Costa congratulating Radev, writing: “Congratulations to Rumen Radev on your outright victory in yesterday’s legislative elections in Bulgaria. It is a pleasure to welcome you back to the European Council.”

CNN described Radev as a euroskeptic former fighter pilot who opposed military support for Ukraine’s war effort against Moscow, and it reported that on Sunday he said he would be willing to work on judicial reform with PP-DB and that Bulgaria would “make efforts to continue on its European path.”

BBC said Radev promised to build “a strong Bulgaria in a strong Europe” and told voters that “What Europe needs right now is critical thinking, pragmatic actions and good results,” while it also said he was seen as “a pragmatic, somewhat pro-Russian leader” who criticised EU sanctions and called for constructive dialogue with the Kremlin.

In Sofia, Radev’s own rhetoric combined domestic anti-corruption themes with a European framing, telling reporters, “What Europe needs right now is critical thinking, pragmatic actions and good results, especially to build a new security architecture and … recover its industrial power and competitiveness.”

The Spokesman-Review added that Radev pledged to turn the page on “years of political gridlock and corruption” and said he wanted to build bridges with the Kremlin, while also stating he wants to strengthen the EU and NATO.

While the vote totals converged around Radev leading with roughly the mid-40s share, outlets differed in how they reported the stage of counting and the likely seat outcomes, and they also diverged in their emphasis on foreign-policy risk versus domestic reform.

CNN said Progressive Bulgaria had 44.6% after 60% of ballots were counted and described the result as potentially ending “years of weak coalition governments,” while BBC reported 87% counted and “a majority of at least 135 seats in the 240-seat parliament.”

CNN

Al Jazeera reported 44.7 percent with 91.7 percent of ballots counted, while Devdiscourse said Progressive Bulgaria could lead with 44.6% of the vote and potentially end “a period of political instability.”

The Spokesman-Review described an Alpha Research projection of 129 seats and 44% of the vote, and PBS’s exit poll suggested 39.2% support for Radev’s coalition, with voter turnout at 43.4% and six parties predicted to pass the 4% threshold.

The Guardian’s live blog framed the Kremlin reaction as impressed by Radev’s dialogue posture, but it also placed the story alongside other EU issues, including its note that the European Commission insisted there was “no jet fuel shortage in the EU.”

In contrast, POLITICO.eu emphasized the election as a defeat of “Bulgaria’s oligarchic model,” saying Radev “scored an emphatic win” and describing his campaign against the “oligarchic pyramid.”

The Washington Post’s headline and framing described the election as significant for Moscow as it looks to “rebuild toeholds of support within the European Union,” while the AP focused on the domestic protest-driven demand for an independent judiciary and corruption crackdown.

The sources portrayed the immediate next phase of Bulgaria’s politics as hinging on governance math, judicial reform, and the country’s role in European security and energy debates.

“✕ Home News Analysis Agro-Forestry Art & Culture Technology Economy & Business Education Energy & Extractives Politics Law & Governance Health Science & Environment Social & Gender Sports Transport Urban Development WASH Research LogIn/SignUp Close the sidebar A New Dawn: Rumen Radev's Triumph in Bulgarian Politics Pro-Russian former President Rumen Radev is on the path to a significant victory in Bulgaria's latest election, potentially ending a period of political instability and replacing long-standing political forces”

Devdiscourse

BBC said Progressive Bulgaria’s mandate to govern alone would still require support from the party in second place, called “We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria,” to pass key legislation ending political pressure on the judiciary, which requires a two-thirds majority.

Devdiscourse

The Spokesman-Review added that the prime minister elect has plans to appoint new members to the judicial council, which controls the promotion of judges and prosecutors, and it said for that he’ll need a super majority of 160, quoting Radev: “We must start by restoring justice.”

On foreign policy and Europe, CNN described Radev as opposing military support for Ukraine’s war effort against Moscow and said he was unlikely to replicate Viktor Orbán’s role as a spoiler of EU backing for Kyiv, while BBC said he opposes Bulgarian military support for Ukraine but is unlikely to replicate Orbán’s role.

BBC also said Bulgaria is an important supplier of ammunition and explosives to Ukraine through third countries, especially neighbouring Romania, and it cited VMZ in Sopot producing explosives and NATO-grade 155 mm artillery shells.

BBC further reported that in October 2025 Rheinmetall announced a €1bn joint venture with VMZ to produce up to 100,000 155mm shells a year, and it said a separate gunpowder factory would also be built in Sopot with Rheinmetall having a 51% share.

The Guardian’s live blog connected the election to EU-level concerns about energy and preparedness, with Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova saying the bloc’s energy package “will address different elements that are connected to the current crisis.”