Bulgaria Election

A father casts his ballot, accompanied by his daughters at a polling station in Sofia on Sunday, April 19, 2026, during early parliamentary elections.

Tags

As featured on

Tired of political turmoil, Bulgarians give ex-president a convincing mandate for change

Tired of political turmoil, Bulgarians give ex-president a convincing mandate for change

Bulgaria's center-left coalition led by ex-president Rumen Radev has won the parliamentary election, according to the central electoral commission. With all the ballots counted Monday, the Progressive Bulgaria coalition received 44.6% of the vote, far ahead of the center-right GERB party and the pro-Western reformist bloc. Radev described the victory as a triumph of hope over distrust. He emphasized Bulgaria's commitment to its European path while advocating for critical thinking and pragmatism. Radev, known for his Russia-friendly views, resigned from the presidency to pursue the role of prime minister.