SOFIA, Bulgaria (FN), Former President Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria party has won a decisive victory in Bulgaria’s parliamentary elections, securing an outright majority in the 240-seat National Assembly and ending years of political deadlock.
Official results released Monday showed Progressive Bulgaria capturing about 44 percent of the vote, translating into roughly 135 seats. The victory marks the first time in decades that a single party has won a clear majority, allowing Radev to form a government without coalition partners.
The outcome dealt a heavy blow to former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov’s GERB party, which has dominated Bulgarian politics for much of the past two decades but has struggled amid corruption scandals and repeated coalition collapses.
Radev, a former air force commander who served as president from 2017 to 2022, campaigned on promises to dismantle what he called a “mafia state” and restore stability after Bulgaria endured eight elections in five years. His party’s platform emphasized anti-corruption reforms, stronger social protections, and a recalibration of foreign policy.
Analysts say the victory could reshape Bulgaria’s role in Europe. Radev has often criticized European Union sanctions on Russia and expressed skepticism about military aid to Ukraine, positions that may put Sofia at odds with Brussels and NATO allies.
Bulgaria has long struggled with fragile governments and political instability. In 2014, a wave of defections and populist movements reshaped the political landscape, while repeated elections between 2021 and 2023 left the country under caretaker administrations. Radev’s win is being described as the most sweeping mandate since Bulgaria’s democratic transition in the 1990s.
Observers warn that while the majority gives Radev unprecedented leverage, his Russia-friendly stance could spark tensions abroad. Domestically, supporters hope the victory will finally deliver the stability that has eluded Bulgaria for years.
