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Kremlin-Friendly Coalition Led by Radev Is Set to Win Bulgaria Elections With Over 44% of Vote
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Bulgaria’s coalition “Progressive Bulgaria,” led by former President Rumen Radev, is leading the country’s snap parliamentary elections with more than 44.5% of the vote, according to preliminary results published by the Central Election Commission after 91.68% of ballots were counted.
The coalition secured 44.69% of the vote, placing it well ahead of its competitors. The GERB-SDS coalition came second with 13.39%.
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Even before the final results were announced, Radev declared victory.
“This is a victory of hope over distrust, a victory of freedom over fear, and finally, if you will, a victory of morality,” he told journalists outside his office in Sofia, according to The Guardian on March 20.
Radev also reaffirmed Bulgaria’s commitment to its European path, stating that the country would “make efforts to continue on its European path.” At the same time, he emphasized the need for a more balanced approach.
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What we know about Rumen Radev
A newly established center-left alliance led by former President Rumen Radev, Progressive Bulgaria, was widely expected to lead the vote, although not projected to secure an outright majority.
After casting his ballot Radev called on citizens to participate in the election, stating that mass turnout was “the only way to drown vote-buying in a sea of free votes.”
Radev, a former air force general who served as Bulgaria’s president for nine years before stepping down in January to run, has pledged to challenge what he describes as an “oligarchic governance model” in the country.
He has also expressed support for restoring ties with Russia and has been critical of military assistance to Ukraine amid the ongoing war. At the same time, he has formally condemned Russia’s invasion and said he would not use Bulgaria’s veto to block EU support for Kyiv if elected.
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Radev has also voiced opposition to the EU’s green energy policy, describing it as naive “in a world without rules.”
The development comes, as Bulgaria has formally declared its intention to join the PURL program, an initiative aimed at facilitating the procurement of US-made weapons for Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed the decision, noting that both countries are strengthening coordination within the “Coalition of the Willing” and the EU’s SAFE rearmament initiative.
Sybiha also emphasized that Bulgaria has delivered 16 defense assistance packages to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
“I am grateful to the Government of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian people for supporting Ukraine. We value Bulgaria's readiness to develop cooperation both at the bilateral level and within international organizations,” he said.
Additionally, in October 2025, Bulgaria has entered into a significant defense agreement with German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall to construct a new ammunition production facility.
The project, valued at more than $1 billion, is intended to strengthen regional defense capabilities amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
According to the report, the facility will manufacture gunpowder and 155mm artillery shells. It will operate as a joint venture between Rheinmetall and Bulgaria’s state-owned arms producer VMZ, with Rheinmetall holding a 51% stake and VMZ 49%.
