Arabic version: حزب رومن راديف يتصدر نتائج الانتخابات البلغارية
Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria party looks set to win the Bulgarian Parliamentary election, marking the eighth general election in five years. With more than 60% of the vote counted, Progressive Bulgaria was in the lead with 45% of the votes, according to the Central Electoral Commission, which translates to an absolute majority of at least 132 seats in the 240-seat parliament. The liberal PP-DB coalition is trailing at 15%, followed by ex-prime minister Boiko Borisov’s GERB party at 13%. According to BBC News, this election was called after the previous government tried to push through a controversial budget in December, prompting mass protests which Radev, as president, supported.
In his victory speech, Radev expressed gratitude to voters for their trust and emphasized the need for a strong Bulgaria within a strong Europe. He highlighted the importance of critical thinking and pragmatic actions in addressing current European challenges, particularly in security and industrial competitiveness. Radev, who is seen as a pragmatic, somewhat pro-Russian leader, has previously criticized EU sanctions and opposed military support for Ukraine.
After stepping down as president in January to lead his new movement, Radev’s victory is notable but does not grant Progressive Bulgaria a strong enough mandate to govern alone. In his first speech on Sunday evening, Radev indicated a desire to seek coalition partners for governance.
Bulgaria plays a significant role as a supplier of ammunition and explosives to Ukraine, primarily through third countries like Romania. The ongoing war has revitalized the country’s arms industry, which has faced challenges since the Soviet era. Radev has frequently spoken out against the sale of Bulgarian stockpiles of Soviet-era weapons to Ukraine, arguing that such actions prolong the conflict.
In a related development, the German arms company Rheinmetall announced a €1 billion joint venture with Bulgaria’s VMZ factory to produce NATO-grade artillery shells. Radev has been active in fostering partnerships with defense manufacturers, indicating a commitment to integrating Bulgaria into the European defense ecosystem, despite his critical stance on military supplies to Ukraine.
