The EU did not have time to take a breath and the results of the elections in Bulgaria came to create a new headache for it.
After eight national elections in five years, the citizens of Bulgaria gave yesterday (19/4) with 44.7% (out of 97% of the counted votes) an overwhelming majority to .
The collapse of the old system and the electoral launch
Radev, 62, a fighter pilot, ex-communist and Bulgaria’s president from 2017 to 2026, ran a short election campaign promising to end the oligarchy, mafia and corruption. He took advantage of the citizens’ indignation against all the parties that participated in coalition governments without bringing results and won votes from the entire ideological-political spectrum and from the youth.
The previously ruling center-right party GERB, of former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, sank to 13.4%, from 26% in October 2024. Third came the centrist coalition “Continue the Changes – Democratic Bulgaria” with 12.9%, fourth the “Movement of Rights and Freedoms” of the controversial big businessman. Delian Peevski with 6.7% and fifth the nationalist far-right “Revival” with 4.3%.
With a voter turnout of 50%, up 12 points from the last election, and predicted to have a self-sustaining government with 130 of the 240 seats, Rumen Radev will become the most powerful prime minister in recent years.
The “gap” between East and West
In the run-up to the elections, Radev did not take clear positions on the foreign policy he will follow, in order to maintain his appeal to all groups of voters. A third of the country is in favor of Russia and another third in favor of Europe. Since the war in Ukraine began in 2022, due to religious and linguistic ties with Russia, politics in Bulgaria has shifted into an East versus West divide, according to an analysis by Myara polling agency founder Parvan Simeonov.
At first reading the new leader of Bulgaria is pro-Russian and Eurosceptic. In the past he has criticized European aid to Ukraine because, he claims, it prolongs the war with Russia. He has spoken out against the strategic cooperation defense agreement between Bulgaria and Ukraine, which was signed just a month ago. He argues that dialogue with Russia should be restored, especially on energy issues.
Orban’s “shadow” and the future in the Eurozone
Shortly before the accession of Bulgaria to the Eurozone, in his presidential capacity at the time, he asked for a referendum on the matter. The government rejected the proposal, even though the majority of citizens were against the adoption of the euro.
Although his winning coalition is left-wing, Radev has repeatedly expressed his admiration for former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
In June 2019, he vetoed the acquisition of 16 F-16 fighter jets by the US. The veto was extremely unpopular and the government of the day went ahead with the purchase.
These positions of his have created concern in the EU and NATO that Bulgaria will be the new “voice” of the Kremlin in these organizations, replacing Orban, especially on the issue of aid to Ukraine.
“Pragmatism” or break with the EU?
“You must know that Bulgaria will make efforts to continue its European path but believe me, a strong Bulgaria, in a strong Europe, needs pragmatism, because Europe has become a victim of its ambition to be a moral leader in a world without rules,” Radev said after the announcement of the first results of the national elections in Bulgaria.
“Pragmatism” mainly refers to energy, where Bulgaria is still one of the EU countries with the greatest energy dependence on Russia. Although its economy has improved in recent years, Bulgaria remains one of the poorest countries in the EU.
Russia welcomes the election results. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “of course, the words of Mr. Radev … as well as some other European leaders about their readiness to solve problems through dialogue appeal to us.”
Radev defends his pro-Russian statements by claiming that he puts Bulgaria’s national interest above all else.
A hard bargain of the new government with the EU is expected, but to what extent Rumen Radev is willing to create problems in the functioning of the Union and the unanimity of decisions, remains to be seen.
