Alliance of Former President Radev Wins Snap Parliamentary Elections by a Clear Margin

Bulgaria’s political landscape has undergone a major transformation following the parliamentary elections held on 19 April 2026. After years of instability and a total of seven snap elections since 2021, this eighth trip to the polls has reshuffled the cards. The upcoming parliament will be dominated by a single force: the new alliance “Progressive Bulgaria” (PB), led by former President Rumen Radev, who stepped down from Presidential Office in January 2026. PB won 44.6% of the vote and secured an absolute majority of parliamentary seats. The central theme of PB’s election campaign was the fight against corruption and “oligarchy”; all other issues played a secondary role and attracted little public attention. The campaign itself was largely devoid of emotion and failed to generate widespread enthusiasm among the electorate. Voter turnout was higher than in previous years but, at 51.1%, remained at a relatively low level.