Radev, 62, a former air force chief, is one of the country’s most popular politicians, although critics have long accused him of being close to Russia.
Former President Rumen Radev has been leading the polls in Bulgaria for weeks. According to preliminary estimates, he and his Progressive Bulgaria party are the winners of the snap parliamentary elections, with about 45% of the vote. Over the past five years, the country has held eight such elections. According to Radev, there should be no new elections soon: “We will do everything to prevent us from having to hold elections again. This would mean going from one crisis to another, so we must work seriously to overcome these crises.”
Bulgaria has not had such a clear winner in parliamentary elections for a long time. Radev, 62, a former air force chief, is one of the country’s most popular politicians, although critics have long accused him of being close to Russia.
CRITICS LOOK CLOSELY AT PUTIN
Radev has previously expressed skepticism about sanctions against Russia and arms shipments to Ukraine. At the same time, his Progressive Bulgaria party has included a clear commitment to the European Union and NATO in its election program. At the end of the election campaign, a video clip showed footage of joint meetings between him and Vladimir Putin.
Political scientist and journalist Jawor Siderov, in an analysis for German television ARD, describes Radev as a populist. According to him, Radev can lead the country in a similar direction to Viktor Orbán, more Eurosceptic and more conservative in values, but without being as radical as him.
RADEV PROMISES WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION
In order to finally form a “normal” government, Radev has declared that he will clearly commit to fighting corruption in the country. Criticism is usually directed at the conservative GERB party, led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, and the DPS of oligarch Deljan Peevski. Both of these parties have suffered significant losses and, according to the results, will not even reach 80 seats in the new parliament.
The winner of the election hopes to form a stable government. It remains unclear whether Radev and the reformist parties will cooperate in a coalition, as they have been divided during the campaign. They have said they will wait for the final results before deciding on a possible government. Preliminary results are expected to be published on Monday, with final results on Wednesday.
Depending on the composition of parliament, his center-left coalition may even be able to govern alone.
FROM FIGHTER PILOT TO POLITICAL LEADER
Radev is a Bulgarian political figure of military origin, who built his career initially in the Air Force, where he served as a pilot and later as its commander. This military profile has strongly influenced his public image, presenting him as a disciplined leader and distanced from traditional politics.
He entered high politics in 2016, when he was elected president of Bulgaria, initially supported by the socialist camp. Over time, Radev consolidated himself as a central figure on the political scene, increasingly positioning himself as an alternative to the existing political class.
In recent years, he has built a strong profile as a representative of anti-establishment views, emerging as a critic of traditional parties and perceived corruption in the Bulgarian political system. He has positioned himself as one of the main voices articulating public discontent with the country’s ongoing political instability and recurring government crises.
Radev has gained popularity by presenting himself as a figure who challenges the political elite and capitalizing on the electorate’s fatigue with frequent election cycles and short-lived governments. This approach has helped him strengthen his support and become one of the most important players in contemporary Bulgarian politics.
In terms of political style, he has been characterized by a more direct and often critical rhetoric towards the existing system, positioning himself as a figure who demands structural change in the way the state and institutions function. Overall, Radev is seen as a leader who has transitioned from the role of a military man to that of a senior politician, building a strong public profile on the image of discipline, anti-corruption, and opposition to the Bulgarian political establishment.