Bulgaria: Pro-Russian Radev takes lead in early vote count

Pro-Russian former President Rumen Radev is set to triumph in Sunday's general election, official results showed.

Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party had 44.6% of the vote after 60% of ballots were counted.

The performance by the party is better than expected and appears to be one of the largest parliamentary mandates by any party in recent years.

What about the rest of the parties?

Progressive Bulgaria's tally put it far ahead of the pro-European We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition with 14.2%, and the long dominant Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, or GERB party, ​led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borissovat, at 13%.

Radev earlier Sunday told reporters he was willing to work with the PP-DB camp to obtain a majority, but was also open to a minority government.

"We are ready to consider different options so that Bulgaria can ​have a regular and stable government," he said Sunday.

What to know about Bulgaria's eighth general election

The snap vote follows the resignation of a conservative-led government amid nationwide anti-corruption protests last December.

Bulgaria, the EU's poorest member, has been gripped by a political crisis since 2021, when the conservative government of Boyko Borissov was toppled, also amid anti-corruption rallies. The Sunday vote marks the eighth election in five years. Many hope that the outcome will put an end to the political impasse that has long dogged the country.

"We will do everything possible ‌not to allow us to go (to elections) again. It is ruinous for Bulgaria," Radev said after the polls closed on Sunday.

Will Sunday's election end Bulgaria's political paralysis?

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Who is Rumen Radev, the frontrunner in Bulgaria's election?

A newly formed center-left grouping under former President Rumen Radev, Progressive Bulgaria, had been tipped as the likely winner ahead of the vote, though also projected to fall short of an absolute majority.

After casting his ballot on Sunday, the 62-year-old Radev urged other people to vote, saying that mass voting was "the only way to drown vote-buying in a sea of free votes."

Radev, a former air force general who was president of Bulgaria for nine years before stepping down in January to run in the election, has pledged to combat what he calls the "oligarchic governance model" in the country.

He has also advocated for Bulgaria to renew ties with Russia, while being critical of the sending of military aid to Ukraine as it fights the ongoing invasion by Moscow's troops.

He has, nonetheless, officially denounced Russia's invasion and said he would not use his country's veto to block EU aid to Kyiv if elected.

Radev also opposes the EU's green energy policy, which he considers naive "in a world without rules."

Borissov pessimistic while casting his vote, changes tune later

Opinion polls showed that Borissov's pro-European GERB party, which led the last government, is likely to come second, ahead of the liberal PP-DB. Early exit polls showed results even lower than the predicted 20% mark, with GERB securing around 15% support.

While voting in Bankya, on the outskirts of Sofia, on Sunday, Borissov seemed less-than-hopeful about his party's prospects. He stressed that GERB will not enter any coalitions.

"I don't see who we can enter a coalition with," he was quoted as saying by Bulgaria's national broadcaster. The ex-PM said his party will instead act as constructive opposition and take part in topics related to geopolitics, such as national defense.

Later on Sunday, however, he seemed more confident despite his party's setback.

"Winning the election is one thing; governing is quite another. The election determines who is first, but negotiations will determine who governs. GERB can go into government and into opposition. And in politics, just as in life, patience is needed," the GERB leader noted.

Borissov has served three terms as Bulgaria's prime minister. During the campaign, he has highlighted his GERB party's record, saying it had "fulfilled the dreams of the 1990s," among other things by having Bulgaria join the eurozone this year.

New course for EU and NATO member?

Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) and closed at 8 p.m local time (1700 GMT), with a high turnout expected in the Balkan country of some of 6.5 million following just 39% participation in the 2024 election.

By 4 p.m. local time, the nationwide turnout had reached nearly 35%, according to the electoral officials.

 Preliminary results are expected on Monday.

Bulgaria is a member of both the European Union and NATO. It joined the eurozone on January 1, shortly after entering the border-free Schengen travel area.

Bulgaria's big currency gamble adopting the euro

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Edited by: Sean Sinico and Wesley Dockery