An Old Song in a New Voice

Bulgaria’s most recent snap parliamentary election was its seventh in the past five years. Held on April 19, it was triggered by the resignation of the Zhelyazkov government following mass protests in November and December 2025. Distrust in the government, allegations of widespread corruption, and the planned annual budget were among the main drivers of the unrest, which brought over 100,000 citizens into the streets of major cities across the country.

Bulgaria’s joining of the Eurozone at the beginning of this year, while a significant achievement for pro-EU political movements, was soon overshadowed by the unexpected resignation of President Rumen Radev. He held the position for over nine years before handing it over to Vice President Iliana Yotova, who became Bulgaria’s first female president. Many predicted that this move would be followed by Radev entering active politics, either by joining or establishing his own party. Soon enough, Progressive Bulgaria (PB), a left-wing nationalist and populist coalition, entered the race for the National Assembly, with polls predicting a major victory of 25-35% of the vote.

While new parties continue to emerge, hoping to capitalize on the country’s political instability, what remains unchanged is a recurring pattern in Bulgaria’s post-socialist history. Parties led by popular figures tend to sweep elections in times of turmoil, beginning with Simeon II, Bulgaria’s former king, and his party in 2001. Later, widespread discontent with his governance and failure to deliver on key promises paved the way for Sofia’s then-mayor, Boyko Borissov, to establish his center-right GERB party and win the 2009 elections. After a decade of dominance, singer and TV host Slavi Trifonov founded ITN, which placed second in its first election before winning the next. Finally, and most recently, Assen Vassilev and Kiril Petkov’s liberal, pro-EU We Continue the Change won the November 2021 election, though it led only to a short-lived government amid a continuing cycle of snap elections.

A notable peculiarity lies in the national political psychology of Bulgarians: the apparent desire for change, coupled with an inability to commit to it. Many voters still choose not to support any political party, either by marking so on their ballots or by not voting at all. This remains one of the country’s most significant challenges. The recent fall of Viktor Orbán in Hungary, following a turnout of nearly 79%, served for many Bulgarians as an example of how active political participation can bring meaningful change. However, the April elections saw only a 50% turnout. While this may seem low, it is actually among the highest in the past five years; in some elections in 2022 and 2023, participation dropped to around 30%.

On April 20, the Central Election Commission reported approximately 1.4 million votes for PB, constituting an impressive 44.6% and granting it an absolute majority in parliament. Meanwhile, GERB’s representation was cut in half, the PP-DB coalition lost one seat, and the ultranationalist, pro-Russian Revival party barely crossed the 4% threshold, securing 13 seats. Radev’s victory is widely seen as fitting into the familiar pattern of newly established parties, emerging shortly before elections, promising a break from the status quo, yet often failing to deliver lasting change.

One potential positive is PB’s absolute majority in parliament, which could allow for the completion of a full four-year mandate and contribute to political stabilization. Local elections are also approaching and are likely to be shaped by the parliamentary results. Furthermore, while GERB, PP-DB, and other governing coalitions have been strongly EU-oriented, PB appears more open to engagement with Russia. Some argue that Radev’s victory has effectively provided Vladimir Putin with a new ally following Orbán’s loss. Overall, PB is expected to bring changes to how the country has functioned since 2020.

While Radev was relatively constrained in his role as president during his two terms, his likely transition to the position of prime minister would allow him to play a far more decisive role in shaping Bulgaria’s future. Whether he can deliver meaningful change and meet the expectations of those demanding it, or ultimately follow the path of his predecessors, remains to be seen.