Rumen Radev and Boyko Borissov are competing in a vote that will shape Bulgaria’s relations with Brussels, Kiev, and Moscow
Published 19 Apr, 2026 11:34
Bulgaria’s Rumen Radev and Boyko Borissov have cast their votes, and the country’s eighth election in five years is underway. Radev, who opposes EU aid to Ukraine, has vowed to break the stranglehold of the “oligarchic mafia” on Bulgaria.
The election is another flashpoint in the battle between pro-EU and sovereignist political forces in Europe. Borissov’s GERB-SDS party is aligned with Brussels’ foreign policy, and he reassured voters on Sunday that the party gives “full support to Ukraine.” Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria faction promises to balance relations between East and West, with Radev vowing to build a “modern European Bulgaria,” while developing “practical relations with Russia based on mutual respect.”
Radev is a former fighter pilot who served as Bulgaria’s president between 2017 and 2026. Borissov is the country’s longest-serving prime minister, holding office between 2009 and 2021. The pair publicly clashed during their overlapping stint in power, with Radev backing the 2020 anti-corruption protests that led to Borissov’s downfall.
Just as it did in Hungary last weekend, and in France, Germany, Moldova, and Romania beforehand, the EU has activated its ‘Rapid Response System’ in Bulgaria. This suite of online censorship tools gives the European Commission the power to remove so-called “disinformation” from social media platforms during the election.
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19 April 2026
12:03 GMT
Radev’s vote was a more low-key affair, with the former president driving himself to a polling station in Sofia – and reportedly getting delayed in traffic along the way. Notably, Radev was not accompanied by his wife, Desislava. In a Facebook post on Saturday night, she said that she would “think about it for another half hour,” Bulgarian media reported.
Rumen Radev steps into his car after voting in Sofia, Bulgaria, April 19, 2026 © Getty Images; Jaap Ariens
- 11:55 GMT
Borissov has explicitly ruled out forming a coalition. Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, he said that GERB-SDS will “no longer compromise” and weaken its position through coalitions.
During his 12 years in power, Borissov earned a reputation for forming coalitions with anyone from the center or right to stay in power. Here, he’s practically admitting defeat: GERB-SDS is polling at around 20%, meaning a broad coalition would be essential for a return to office.
- 11:48 GMT
Voter interest is higher than usual in a Bulgarian election. Turnout hit 17% by noon, up from 13.5% at the same time during snap elections in October 2024.
Repeated elections have resulted in voter fatigue in Bulgaria. Just 33% and 38% of eligible Bulgarians voted in the country’s two general elections in 2024. This time around, turnout is expected to hit 60%, according to the Sofia-based Alpha Research.
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-
19 April 2026
11:48 GMT
Voter interest is higher than usual in a Bulgarian election. Turnout hit 17% by noon, up from 13.5% at the same time during snap elections in October 2024.
Repeated elections have resulted in voter fatigue in Bulgaria. Just 33% and 38% of eligible Bulgarians voted in the country’s two general elections in 2024. This time around, turnout is expected to hit 60%, according to the Sofia-based Alpha Research.
- 11:55 GMT
Borissov has explicitly ruled out forming a coalition. Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, he said that GERB-SDS will “no longer compromise” and weaken its position through coalitions.
During his 12 years in power, Borissov earned a reputation for forming coalitions with anyone from the center or right to stay in power. Here, he’s practically admitting defeat: GERB-SDS is polling at around 20%, meaning a broad coalition would be essential for a return to office.
- 12:03 GMT
Radev’s vote was a more low-key affair, with the former president driving himself to a polling station in Sofia – and reportedly getting delayed in traffic along the way. Notably, Radev was not accompanied by his wife, Desislava. In a Facebook post on Saturday night, she said that she would “think about it for another half hour,” Bulgarian media reported.
Rumen Radev steps into his car after voting in Sofia, Bulgaria, April 19, 2026 © Getty Images; Jaap Ariens
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