Former president Rumen Radev leads the party that captured 44.7% of the votes and achieved a majority in the Bulgarian parliament
The party of the pro-Russian former president of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, won the parliamentary elections held on Sunday (19.Apr.2026). With 91.7% of polling stations counted on the website, the center-left party, Progressive Bulgaria, totaled 1.3 million votes, 44.7% of the total.
The 2nd place, the GERB (center-right) party, led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, received 395,500 votes, equivalent to 13.4%. Borissov admitted the victory of Radev, who will now become the country’s prime minister and with a majority in parliament. Even with less than half of the total votes, Progressive Bulgaria has more than the other parties that managed to reach the electoral threshold.
HOW ELECTIONS WORK IN BULGARIA
In Bulgaria, voters do not vote directly for a president or government leader, but for parties or coalitions of parties.
Seats are distributed proportionally between groups according to the number of votes received. The group that achieves a majority nominates the prime minister, head of government.
WHO IS RADEV
Radev, 62, was president of Bulgaria for 9 years and resigned in January 2026 to run for prime minister. He is a former fighter pilot and former Air Force commander.
Its pro-Russian stance contrasts with the rest of the European Union. Although he officially denounces Moscow’s aggression, the former president opposes sending military aid to .
PROMISES
Sunday’s election (19 April) was called after the resignation of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov (GERB), in December, which took place during a wave of popular protests against corruption in the government. This was the 8th election in 5 years in the country. Radev was one of the main supporters of the protests that led to Zhelyazkov’s departure.
In the campaign, the former president promised to eradicate corruption and end a spiral of weak and ephemeral governments.
