Voters across Bulgaria went to the polls on Sunday in yet another parliamentary election, the eighth since 2021, as the country struggles to break a prolonged cycle of political instability.
The latest vote comes amid expectations that a new centre-left bloc led by former president Rumen Radev could emerge as the largest force in parliament. Radev, who left office in January, is campaigning on an anti-corruption platform and promising to dismantle what he describes as an entrenched oligarchic system.
Bulgaria’s political turbulence began after mass protests in 2021 forced out the government of long-serving conservative leader Boyko Borissov. Since then, repeated elections have failed to produce lasting governments, deepening public frustration and eroding trust in political institutions.
Opinion surveys ahead of the vote suggested Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria grouping could secure about a third of the ballots cast, well ahead of Borissov’s pro-European GERB party, which is projected to place second. The liberal alliance PP-DB is also expected to feature among the leading contenders.
Polling stations opened early in the morning and are scheduled to close in the evening, with observers predicting a higher turnout than in the previous election, when participation dropped below 40 percent.
Radev has taken controversial positions on foreign policy, criticising European Union green energy policies and opposing military assistance to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022. He has also called for renewed engagement with Moscow, drawing criticism from pro-European voices at home.
His stance became a major talking point during the campaign after images of his past meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin resurfaced online, prompting debate among voters about Bulgaria’s geopolitical direction.
Despite the criticism, thousands of supporters turned out for his final rally in Sofia, where he presented his movement as a clean break from what he called a discredited political class.
Borissov, meanwhile, has defended his party’s record, pointing to milestones such as Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone this year as evidence of progress under GERB’s leadership. He has dismissed suggestions that Radev represents meaningful change.
Radev has ruled out any post-election alliance with GERB or with the DPS party led by Delyan Peevski, who has been sanctioned by the United States and the United Kingdom over corruption allegations. Instead, he has set his sights on securing an outright majority in the 240-seat parliament.
Authorities have also intensified efforts to prevent vote buying ahead of the polls, seizing large sums of cash and detaining several suspects, including local officials, in recent weeks.
With many citizens weary of frequent elections and fragile coalitions, the outcome of Sunday’s vote is seen as a crucial test for Bulgaria’s ability to restore political stability and public confidence.
