Rumen Radev, former Bulgarian president and leader of Progressive Bulgaria coalition, speaks to the media after the first exit polls at the parliamentary election, in Sofia, Bulgaria, April 19, 2026. SPASIYANA SERGIEVA / REUTERS
Bulgarian ex-president Rumen Radev – an EU critic who has called for renewing ties with Russia – on Sunday, April 19, hailed a "victory of hope" after his formation topped the eighth parliamentary elections in five years. Projections from polling agencies put his Progressive Bulgaria grouping at some 44%, which would give him an absolute majority of at least 129 seats in the 240-seat parliament.
The European Union's poorest member has seen successive governments since 2021, when anti-graft rallies brought down the conservative administration of pro-European leader Boyko Borissov. Radev, 62, who resigned earlier this year after nine years as president, ran on a pledge to fight corruption. PB came in well ahead of Borissov's GERB party and the liberal PP-DB coalition, both of which stood at around 12%, according to the projections.
Official final results are expected no earlier than Monday.
"PB has won unequivocally – a victory of hope over distrust, a victory of freedom over fear," Radev told reporters outside his group's office in Sofia. He said Bulgaria would "make every effort to continue on its European path." "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," the former air force general added.
