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Bulgaria's pro-Russian former president leads election race on anti-graft ticket
Rumen Radev's coalition leads polls with 30% on an anti-corruption platform, but may require coalition partners, analysts say.
- On Sunday, April 19, Bulgaria will hold snap parliamentary elections where former President Rumen Radev's center-left Progressive Bulgaria coalition is favored to win after his January resignation from the presidency.
- Seven inconclusive elections in five years have plagued Bulgaria, as massive anti-corruption protests in December 2025 forced the conservative government's resignation and deepened voter mistrust in institutions.
- Alpha Research polls show Progressive Bulgaria leading with 34.2% of the vote, nearly 10% ahead of the center-right GERB-SDS alliance at 19.5%, while voters cite inflation as their primary concern followed by corruption.
- Forming a stable government remains uncertain; Radev has ruled out alliances with GERB-SDS or the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, while analysts question whether his 'progressive' platform signals left-wing or pro-European policies.
- Known as the 'Strong Hand,' the former NATO general Radev faces scrutiny for his pro-Russian stance, positioning him as a potential disruptor within the European Union similar to Viktor Orban.
51 Articles
51 Articles
Eurosceptic Party Set to Win Bulgarian Elections
Bulgarians will go to the polls on Sunday, April 19th, in their eighth parliamentary election in five years, underscoring a prolonged period of political instability that has eroded public trust. The vote is widely viewed as a defining moment for the Balkan nation of 6.5 million, where successive governments have failed to last more than a year since 2021. The latest snap election follows the resignation of a pro-EU, centre-right-led administrat…
Associated Press News
Bulgaria's pro-Russian former president is seen as strong front-runner in Sunday's election
Bulgarians are holding an early election that could bring to power a left-leaning ex-president. The newly formed coalition of Rumen Radev is widely expected to win the April 19 poll, with some voters hoping that this could put an end to the country’s oligarchic corruption.
Former President Radev is a favorite in the election in Bulgaria. But the way is far. Experts fear Russian manipulations. After all, Ukraine is an important topic of the election.
Elections in Bulgaria – who is the leading candidate Rumen Radev?
In Bulgaria, the well-established right-wing party GERB could be beaten in the legislative elections this Sunday. Just like in Hungary last week, it’s not an outsider challenging the established government, but a familiar figure: the former president of the country, Rumen Radev.
Will Bulgaria's election change the country's course?
Bulgarians will vote in their eighth parliamentary election in five years on April 19. Former President Rumen Radev is projected to win. Radev, who has a record of pro-Russian stances, is pledging to fight corruption.
Experts claim that corruption exists in the country in everything, from public purchasing agreements to local elections
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