Media: Former Bulgarian President Wins Election, Sweeping Both Pro-Russian and Pro-Western Votes — Could End Political Instability

According to near-final election results released on Monday, former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, who advocates restoring dialogue with Moscow, has secured a majority of seats in the parliamentary elections — potentially bringing an end to the country’s prolonged political instability following eight parliamentary elections within five years.

The Kremlin swiftly welcomed his victory. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, "Of course, we appreciate Mr. Radev’s statements, and we also welcome the willingness of certain other European leaders to resolve issues through dialogue."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated she “looks forward to cooperating with Rumen Radev and his country,” adding that Bulgaria “plays an important role in addressing challenges we face together.”

Based on results from 96.4% of votes counted as of Sunday, the 62-year-old former general and fighter pilot led the Progressive Bulgaria coalition to 44.7% of the vote, poised to win around 130 of the 240 parliamentary seats. According to AFP, the former president’s pro-Russian, anti-corruption campaign platform has found broad appeal among voters in Bulgaria, the EU’s poorest nation.

This overwhelming victory marks the first time since 1997 that a party has secured an absolute majority in Bulgaria’s parliament, offering this Balkan nation a chance to form a stable government after eight national elections in just five years.

Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria coalition far outpaced the conservative party (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria), led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, and the liberal PP-DB, which received 13.4% and 12.9% of the vote, respectively.

Dialogue with Moscow

Before the election, Rumen Radev expressed support for Hungary and Slovakia’s stance of refusing to supply weapons to Ukraine in its war against Russia’s invasion, stating that “it makes no sense for a poor country to bear such costs.”

However, Radev emphasized that Bulgaria, with its 6.5 million population, has greatly benefited from EU membership since joining in 2007, thus ruling out the possibility of using veto power to obstruct EU decisions.

“This is a victory of hope over skepticism, of freedom over fear,” said Radev, who resigned from the presidency in January this year to run in the parliamentary elections.

Catch-all Appeal

His party alliance, formed only months ago, brings together a diverse array of figures, including military personnel, former socialists, and sports personalities.

Political analyst Teodor Slavov told AFP: “Rumen Radev, with his open stance toward Russia and anti-elitist rhetoric, has eroded the voter base of the pro-Kremlin ‘Vazrazhdane’ party.”

Surveys also indicate that some voters who previously backed pro-Western parties have now decided to support him.

A New Era?

According to Atanas Pekanov, a close ally of Rumen Radev and former deputy prime minister, Radev “has cast a very wide net” in his appeal.

Daniel Smilov, a political scientist at the Center for Liberal Strategies, believes Radev will face pressure from within his own party and from far-right opposition forces pushing Bulgaria toward an “Eurosceptic” path.

He added: “The initial signals Radev sent were that he would pursue pro-European policies and not hinder the EU. The key question is whether these signals can be translated into concrete actions.”

Although former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov “congratulated” Rumen Radev on his election win, he denied it would bring about a “new era.” He cautioned: “Winning an election is one thing; governing is another.”

Sources: rfi

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1863013648432139/

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