Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria won a decisive victory in Bulgaria’s eighth parliamentary election in five years, altering the political map and raising the prospect of an end to the cycle of short-lived coalition governments. With roughly 96% of ballots counted, Progressive Bulgaria had about 44.7% of the vote, a share that would give it an outright majority in the 240-seat National Assembly — the first single-party majority since 1997. Voter turnout was estimated near 50%, up from 39% in 2024.
Radev presented the result as a clear mandate to change the status quo, pledging to tackle corruption, rein in inflation and pursue a more independent foreign policy within the EU framework while not excluding dialogue with Russia. He framed the outcome as a rebuke to established parties he accused of complacency and manipulation.
The election inflicted heavy losses on long-standing parties. Only five parties are poised to enter parliament, down from nine after the last vote. The centre-right GERB, led by former prime minister Boyko Borissov, fell to about 13.4% — below 20% for the first time — narrowly ahead of the liberal PP-DB on roughly 12.8%. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) slipped to about 6.6% from 11.5% in 2024. There Is Such a People recorded under 1%. The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) failed to pass the 4% threshold and will not enter parliament for the first time since 1990. The far-right Revival party also lost ground, falling from 13.3% in 2024 to about 4.3%, but remained above the minimum for seats.
The vote follows mass protests in December that targeted Borissov and DPS-linked figures, notably businessperson and media owner Delyan Peevski, who has been sanctioned by the US and UK over alleged corruption and undue influence. Allegations of vote-buying loomed large after election day. The Interior Ministry said DPS and GERB accounted for the most official reports of attempted vote-buying, recording about 631 and 318 reports respectively. Authorities reported seizing more than €1.2 million believed to be intended for buying votes and detaining over 370 suspected vote buyers; officials cautioned those seizures likely represent only a portion of illicit activity and pointed to evidence implicating about 50 people with legal immunity.
Progressive Bulgaria drew a broad coalition of support, appealing to younger activists who participated in last December’s protests, middle-aged and older voters, and a strong overseas electorate. The movement also captured many who stayed home in the previous parliamentary contest. Its appeal siphoned votes from parties across the spectrum, including the far right and established center-right voters.
Despite the parliamentary majority on paper, Radev confronts significant practical challenges. He must produce a 2026 state budget — Bulgaria’s first since adopting the euro on January 1 — and take steps to cushion the economy against inflationary pressures linked to the war in the Middle East. Judicial reform and restoring public trust in state institutions are high on the public agenda, but major constitutional or judicial changes require a two-thirds parliamentary majority (160 seats). Most estimates place Progressive Bulgaria at roughly 130–132 MPs, meaning Radev will need cooperation from other forces to pass sweeping reforms.
Radev, a former air force general who served two presidential terms before resigning in January to run, has vowed to dismantle what he calls an oligarchic governance model. His movement is structured more as a civic platform than a traditional party, featuring experts, athletes and economists rather than long-established party cadres. That relative organizational inexperience could test the movement’s ability to govern, even as a single-party majority gives it a far stronger platform than recent newcomers have enjoyed.
On foreign policy, Radev and his allies have tried to balance a segment of the electorate with pro-Russian sympathies and voters committed to a European path. During the campaign he stopped short of condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine, has at times advocated resuming energy imports from Russia, and has opposed sending military aid to Ukraine. He says his government will not block EU decisions outright but may seek opt-outs if measures are judged contrary to Bulgaria’s national interests. Critics warn this posture could pull Bulgaria away from a firmly pro-European orientation, while supporters point to a pragmatic focus on energy security and industrial policy.
What Radev’s victory ultimately brings will depend on the policy choices his government makes and its ability to deliver results. A stable, single-party administration could end years of fragmented coalition politics, but meeting high public expectations on corruption, justice and economic stability will be the real test of whether the election produces lasting change.