Bulgaria votes as pro-Russian former president leads the polls

SOFIA – Bulgarians went to the polls on April 19 in the eighth parliamentary election in five years, with the clear front runner, pro-Russian former president Rumen Radev, promising to end a spiral of weak, short-lived governments and stamp out widespread corruption.

Mr Radev, a eurosceptic former fighter pilot who opposes military support for Ukraine’s war effort against Moscow, stepped down from the presidency in January to run in the election, which comes after mass protests forced out the previous government in December.

A slick social media campaign, deep coffers and a pledge of stability have boosted his support in the Balkan country of about 6.5 million, where voters are weary of repeated snap polls and a small group of veteran politicians widely seen as corrupt.

“We need, finally, a path to democratic, modern European Bulgaria,” Mr Radev said after casting his ballot in Sofia.

“We need our very robust programme in the Parliament to support the Bulgarian citizens to get out as soon as possible of this very difficult situation,” he added.

On relations with Moscow, he said: “I hope that we will develop practical relations with Russia based on mutual respect and equal treatment.”

Winner will have work to do

Bulgaria has developed rapidly since the fall of communism in 1989 and joined the EU in 2007. Life expectancy has risen sharply, unemployment is the lowest in the EU, and the economy has greater safeguards since joining the euro zone.

But Bulgaria lags other EU countries in many metrics, and graft remains endemic, including in elections, where vote-buying is rife.

The cost of living has become a particular issue since Bulgaria, a member of the European Union and NATO, adopted the euro in January. The previous government fell amid protests against a new budget proposing tax rises and higher social security contributions.

That and the recent political crisis appear to be more important to voters than Mr Radev’s calls to improve relations with Moscow or resume Russian oil and gas flows to Europe.

“Politicians need to come together and make decisions – not have constant conflicts and arguments, going from one election to another without getting anything done,” said Mr Bogomil Bardarski, a 72-year-old metalworker who voted in the capital Sofia.

Radev has strong lead in polls

Opinion polls on April 17 showed Mr Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria securing about 35 per cent of the vote, up from a month ago. If confirmed, that would mark one of the strongest results by a single party in years, though still short of a parliamentary majority.

Polls close at 8pm (1am in Singapore on April 20). Exit polls are expected as the vote closes, and preliminary results could come later on April 19 or 20.

Voter interest is up. A poll by Sofia-based Alpha Research forecasts turnout of around 60 per cent, nearly double the 34 per cent recorded in June 2024.

The figures highlight mounting frustration with the long dominance of the GERB party led by former prime minister Boyko Borissov, which trails in second place with about 18 per cent, and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, whose leader Delyan Peevski is under US and British sanctions for corruption.

One possible coalition partner is the pro-European We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition, which also says reform is needed.

Critics say Mr Radev bears some responsibility for the controversial decisions taken by the interim governments he appointed during his presidency from 2016. These include a 2023 gas deal between the Turkish state gas company Botas and Bulgaria’s Bulgargaz that led to losses and an investigation.

“The state is basically falling apart,” said IT specialist Evgeniy Shoh, 50, who voted in Sofia. REUTERS