Pro-Russian former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev resigned in January to run in parliamentary elections scheduled for the 19th of April, Reuters reports.
Radev has been leading in opinion polls and enjoys strong support from older rural voters who see him as a savior from political turmoil and the man who will end the oligarchy of corrupt politicians. One of Radev’s supporters, farmer Nikolay Vasilyev, told Reuters he sees Radev as a leader who can make fundamental changes and provide security for the people.
Bulgaria will hold its eighth election in five years on the 19th of April. The country has been beset by a series of political crises that have led to the collapse of weak coalitions, and faith in democratic elections has waned. However, several voters told Reuters that this time the feeling was different. Redev, who was elected president in 2016, has emerged unscathed from political crises and has promised to end corruption and ensure stability.
Experts have said that corruption is everywhere in Bulgaria – from procurement procedures to local elections. Bulgaria is ranked 84th in Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, and together with Hungary, it has the worst result in the European Union. Radev promised on the 15th of April to end the strangulation of Bulgarian regions by local governments.
Radev’s victory would change Bulgaria’s foreign policy, which has been determined so far by parties loyal to Brussels.
The former president opposed both the country’s accession to the eurozone and the security agreement signed last month with Ukraine. Responding to growing dissatisfaction with the high bills, Radev said that the coalition had made the decision to introduce the euro without asking the opinion of the population, and now, when paying the bills, people should remember which politicians promised them entry into the “rich club.”
After the defeat of Hungarian pro-Kremlin Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in the parliamentary elections, Radev presented himself as the only EU leader willing to improve relations with the Kremlin.
Last December, the Bulgarian government fell again, and demands for reforms followed. At this point, Radev re-introduced himself. Polls show that his party Progressive Bulgaria could win around 30% of the vote, which is 10% more than the country’s largest party GERB, but far from a majority. Consequently, Radev will have to look for coalition partners, and this could affect his pro-Russian ideas.
Bulgaria has developed rapidly since the fall of communism in 1989 and joined the EU in 2007. Life expectancy has increased, unemployment is the lowest in the bloc, and the economy has also gained security guarantees after joining the eurozone. However, the contrast between the bustling streets of the capital Sofia and the decline of the rural regions is stark, and much of rural Bulgaria is in need of investment.
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