Rumen Radev’s image and slogans for his newly formed Progressive Bulgaria party dominate billboards at Sofia’s airport and along major highways, putting the former president front and center of the campaign. A former military pilot who has praised Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and opposed Bulgaria’s euro adoption, Radev won the presidency in 2016 and 2021 and frequently clashed with successive coalition governments while retaining strong approval ratings.
The current snap parliamentary vote on April 19 follows last December’s government collapse after mass protests over a budget law — Bulgaria’s eighth national ballot in five years. The campaign has been overshadowed by Radev’s January decision to resign the presidency early and contest parliament. He frames his bid as a battle against the “oligarchy,” pledging to reclaim the country and tackle poverty in what he calls a renewed, more accountable Europe-focused Bulgaria.
Radev leads most polls and promises to overturn the established parties’ “corrupt model.” Yet his record of pro-Russian statements while president, reluctance to call Vladimir Putin an aggressor in the Ukraine war, and his lack of clear partners in parliament have prompted debate about how far his victory would shift domestic policy or Bulgaria’s alignment in the EU.
On the campaign trail, some voters describe Radev as the country’s last hope amid political instability; others, especially many younger voters, worry he is cultivating a messianic image. Boryana Dimitrova of Alpha Research notes that he is filling large venues and drawing support across social groups, forcing rivals to consolidate their core bases. Alpha Research’s latest figures put Progressive Bulgaria at about 34.2%, the center-right GERB-SDS at 19.5%, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) — led by oligarch Delyan Peevski, who faces US and UK sanctions — at roughly 9.4%, and the anti-corruption alliance PP-DB at 11.6%.
Everyday concerns diverge from party platforms. While many parties emphasize EU integration, judicial reform and anti-corruption measures, ordinary Bulgarians list rising inflation — a level of economic anxiety not seen since 1997 — as their top worry. That concern has been sharpened by Bulgaria’s switch to the euro on January 1, 2026, and by higher energy prices linked to the Middle East conflict. Alpha Research polling for Bulgarian National Radio puts inflation at the top of voters’ fears, with corruption close behind. Radev has made anti-corruption a central theme of his campaign.
Analysts point to Radev’s strategic ambiguity on several key issues. Daniel Smilov of Sofia University says Radev’s supporters are a mix of pro-Russian voters and those principally motivated by anti-corruption sentiment, so the campaign has avoided clear stances that might alienate either group. Dimitrova adds that he is drawing votes from pro-Russian corners of the far right, as well as disaffected conservatives and left-wing voters, including former supporters of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, which risks falling below the parliamentary threshold.
Forming a stable government looks difficult. It is still unclear whether “Progressive” signals a left-liberal program or a nationalist-conservative path similar to some neighboring parties; the orientation will hinge on whom Radev chooses as partners. Progressive Bulgaria has said it is open to alliances around shared goals like “zero tolerance of corruption,” potentially opening the door to cooperation with the pro-European PP-DB. Deep divisions over foreign policy — particularly attitudes toward Russia and support for Ukraine — could, however, prevent a durable coalition. Both Progressive Bulgaria and PP-DB have ruled out cooperating with GERB and DPS, while other parties remain noncommittal about partnering with Radev.
With a likely fragmented parliament and no obvious majority, two questions dominate: could Bulgaria end up, for the first time in decades, with a parliamentary majority that is not firmly pro-European, and will the entrenched corrupt model be dismantled? The election’s result will help determine not only domestic governance but also Bulgaria’s positioning within the EU and its role in regional security.