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Former president Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria scored a decisive victory in Bulgaria’s snap parliamentary election held on April 19, 2026, official tallies showed on April 20.
With roughly 44.7% of the vote and about 91-96% of ballots counted, the new grouping is on course to secure around 130 of 240 seats — enough for an outright majority — far ahead of longtime rival GERB (about 13-14%) and the pro-reform PP-DB coalition (around 13-15%). Radev resigned the largely ceremonial presidency in January to contest the vote after mass anti-corruption protests toppled the previous government in December.
Campaign promises focused on tackling corruption, judicial reform and restoring stability.
Radev is widely described as Russia-friendly and has opposed direct military aid to Ukraine, though he has said he would not veto EU decisions on Kyiv.
The campaign saw a high-profile crackdown on vote-buying, with authorities seizing over €1.2m and detaining hundreds.
Key challenges for the incoming government include passing a 2026 budget since Bulgaria joined the eurozone this year, tackling inflation and addressing long-standing rule-of-law concerns.
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🕰️ The Story So Far: An Evolving Timeline
Monday, April 20, 2026 12:52 UTC
Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria wins landslide
Friday, April 17, 2026 12:10 UTC
Bulgaria's Rumen Radev wins landslide election








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