Radev's Party Wins Bulgarian Election

Rumen Radev's center-left Progressive Bulgaria party won the Bulgarian parliamentary elections on April 20, 2024, according to exit polls and partial results. This election marks the country’s eighth in five years, following mass protests that led to the resignation of the previous conservative government in December 2023.

Exit polls conducted by Alpha Research projected Progressive Bulgaria winning between 38.1% and 44% of the vote. With most ballots counted, the party secured a majority with at least 135 seats, suggesting it could rule alone or form a coalition with pro-European groups. Former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov’s conservative GERB party trailed in second place with around 15-20%, while the reformist We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition was projected to finish third with about 12-14%. Official results are expected on Monday.

Radev, who stepped down from the presidency in January after nine years, promised to combat corruption and restore stable governance. He described the victory as 'a victory of hope over distrust' and emphasized the need for critical thinking and pragmatic actions in Europe’s security architecture. Radev also hinted at forming a minority government or working with other parties.

The Balkan country has experienced political instability, with fragmented parliaments and short-lived coalitions since 2021. Radev's victory could redefine Bulgaria’s foreign policy, which has been largely dictated by pro-European Union parties. He has called for renewing ties with Moscow and criticized supplying Ukraine with weapons to fend off Russia’s invasion.

According to Al Jazeera, efforts by the administration to push through a budget in December saw hundreds of thousands come out onto the streets demanding the government stand down. Radev indicated he was looking for coalition partners in order to pass legislation outlawing political parties from exerting pressure on the judiciary because he is around 24 seats shy of the two-thirds majority required.

With 98.3 percent of ballots tallied, official figures show Radev’s party taking 44.7% of the vote, and likely to secure roughly 130 of the 240 seats in parliament. The center-left party has come in far ahead of rivals, raising hopes among voters for a more stable government after years of fragile coalitions and repeated votes.

The election campaign centered heavily on cost-of-living pressures, corruption, and other economic concerns, with many voters expressing frustration at the lack of credible political alternatives. Radev's stance on foreign policy has drawn attention in Europe, as he publicly condemned Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine but opposed providing military support to Ukraine.