Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria Secures Historic Absolute Majority in Elections

Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria coalition won Bulgaria's parliamentary elections on April 19, 2026, securing 130 (seats) — seats out of 240 in the Bulgarian Parliament with 44.59% of the vote — the first absolute majority for any party in the country since 1997. The result ends a five-year period of political paralysis during which Bulgaria held eight rounds of parliamentary elections without producing a stable government. Radev, a 62-year-old former general and fighter pilot who resigned as president in January 2026 to lead the new coalition, framed the outcome as a mandate for change. „We have overcome apathy.” — Rumen Radev via AFP The coalition secured nine seats above the threshold required for an absolute majority, giving Radev a clear path to forming a government without coalition partners. Analyst Boriana Dimitrova of the Alpha Research polling institute told AFP that Radev emerged as the "unequivocal winner" of the ballot, while noting the score obtained by the main conservative rival GERB was "much weaker than predicted."

Four parties trail far behind in fractured opposition Four other parties cleared the threshold to enter the 240-seat National Assembly, but none came close to challenging Progressive Bulgaria's dominance. The conservative GERB-SDS formation, led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, finished second with 13.39% and 39 seats. The liberal-conservative We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria coalition, known as PP-DB, took 12.62% and 37 seats. The centrist Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS, entered with 7.12% and 21 seats, while the pro-Russian right-wing Revival party cleared the threshold with 4.26% and 13 seats. Voter turnout reached 50.2%. Progressive Bulgaria: 130, GERB-SDS: 39, PP-DB: 37, DPS: 21, Revival: 13

Kremlin welcomes result as Brussels watches with caution Radev's known positions on Russia and Ukraine drew sharply divergent reactions from Moscow and Brussels. Before the election, Radev stated he shares the refusal of Hungary and Slovakia to send weapons to Ukraine, arguing he does not see the benefit for Bulgaria in paying for such support, and he has called for dialogue with Moscow. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov welcomed the result during his daily press briefing, saying Russia welcomes statements from Radev and other European leaders expressing willingness to resolve problems through dialogue, though he cautioned it would be premature to draw broader conclusions about a shift in Europe's political climate. „Obviously, we welcome the statements of Mr. Radev, who won the elections, as well as those of other European leaders regarding their willingness to solve problems through dialogue.” — Dmitry Peskov via Europa Press European Council President António Costa spoke with Radev by telephone early on Monday and congratulated him on a "resounding victory," expressing hope to work together within the European Council framework. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also published a congratulatory message on social media, though the language was notably more neutral than the near-euphoric terms she used to welcome Péter Magyar's recent election victory in Hungary, which she described as "a great day for Europe." Von der Leyen limited herself to noting that "Bulgaria is a proud member of the European family" and that she looks forward to working together for the prosperity and security of Bulgaria and Europe. Analysts and some EU officials have raised the comparison between Radev and former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, though various analysts cited in source articles reject that parallel; Radev himself pledged he "will make efforts to continue the European path" of Bulgaria and ruled out using his veto to block unanimous EU decisions.

Romania urges Black Sea security cooperation with new Sofia government Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan was among the first regional leaders to congratulate Radev, posting a message in English on the X platform on Monday, April 20. Bolojan called for strengthening the Strategic Partnership between Romania and Bulgaria and advancing common priorities within the EU and NATO. „I congratulate Rumen Radev for his clear victory in the elections in Bulgaria. As neighbors, I look forward to further strengthening the Strategic Partnership between Romania and Bulgaria and promoting our common priorities within the EU and NATO. We must also continue our work to improve regional connectivity and strengthen the security of the Eastern Flank and the Black Sea region.” — Ilie Bolojan via Adevarul.ro Radev comes to power in a Bulgaria that adopted the euro as its official currency in December 2025, a step he was not known to support, though he is expected to focus primarily on fighting corruption — an area where the European Commission may offer assistance. The new prime minister-designate has performed what Bulgarian journalist Vladimir Mitev described as a balancing act between Brussels and Moscow, supporting EU membership while arguing the bloc needs more pragmatism. His victory marks the most significant shift in Bulgarian politics in roughly 25 years, according to reporting by Ziare.com, and raises questions about Sofia's future stance on Ukraine-related decisions requiring EU unanimity.

Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007 and has struggled with endemic corruption and political instability for much of the period since. The country held eight rounds of parliamentary elections between 2021 and 2026 without producing a durable majority government. Radev served as president of Bulgaria from 2017 until his resignation in January 2026, making him the first Bulgarian president in the post-communist era to resign from office. The last time a single party or coalition held an absolute majority in the Bulgarian parliament was in 1997. Bulgaria adopted the euro as its official currency in December 2025.

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