Bulgaria election win for Radev welcomed by EU, Kremlin

Former Bulgarian president Rumen Radev has secured an absolute majority in parliamentary elections, according to near complete results today, in a result that could end years of political instability in the European Union's poorest member state.

Mr Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria grouping won 44.7% of the vote with 98.3% counted, putting him on course for about 130 seats in the 240 seat parliament.

The result marks the first outright parliamentary majority for a single political force in Bulgaria since 1997.

Mr Radev is generally positioned as a centre-left to left-leaning nationalist populist, combining pro -European rhetoric with stronger state intervention and a more conciliatory stance toward Russia than many mainstream EU-aligned liberal parties.

Outgoing prime minister Boyko Borissov’s conservative GERB party won 13.4%, running close to the PP DB coalition (We Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria) on 12.7%.

The far-right Vazrazhdane party and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms are also set to enter parliament.

The Kremlin moved quickly to welcome the result.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow looked favourably on comments from Mr Radev about closer ties and resolving disputes through dialogue.

She added that she looked forward to working with the new leadership.

Mr Radev said his victory represented "hope over distrust" and pledged to continue Bulgaria's European path while also calling for more pragmatism in EU policy.

He has repeatedly criticised corruption and said he aims to dismantle what he describes as an oligarchic system.

Political analyst Teodor Slavev said the key question is whether Mr Radev will take concrete steps on high level corruption, including judicial reform, which would require wider parliamentary support.

Another analyst, Danuiel Smilov, said Mr Radev faces pressure from both his own bloc and the far right to take a more eurosceptic direction, though early signals suggest he intends to remain broadly pro-EU.

Mr Borissov congratulated Mr Radev but cautioned that winning elections is not the same as governing.

Police have stepped up enforcement in recent weeks, with raids linked to alleged vote buying leading to multiple arrests and the seizure of over one million euro.