Bulgaria’s Radev set for commanding win as he weighs coalition paths

Rumen Radev, the Russia-aligned former president, appears on track to win Bulgaria’s election with about 39% for his Progressive Bulgaria movement, well ahead of rivals and potentially needing a coalition to govern. He could partner with pro‑EU reformists, the Socialists, or nationalists to build a majority, and signaled openness to different options to form a stable government. He continues to defend a pro‑Bulgarian stance, maintain ties with Moscow, call for mutual respect with Russia, and advocate Ukraine peace talks while opposing arms deliveries; he also questions euro adoption. He has rejected coalitions with Borissov and Peevski, arguing oligarchic influence dominates Bulgarian politics. The vote marks Bulgaria’s eighth election in five years amid ongoing political instability.