‘Unprecedented since 1999’: Radev secures absolute majority with reformist and eurosceptic coalition

Following the victory of Rumen Radev in Bulgaria’s general election, Alison Sargent is pleased to welcome Dr. Petia Gueorguieva, Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the New Bulgarian University in Sofia. According to Dr. Petia Gueorguieva, there are broader implications for Bulgaria’s domestic stability and geopolitical positioning. She argues that this result is a response to political instability, economic pressures, and shifting international dynamics. Radev successfully consolidated a highly heterogeneous electorate, uniting pro-reform citizens with more Eurosceptic and economically vulnerable groups. This coalition reflects both a desire for institutional reform and a deeper ambivalence toward European integration following Bulgaria’s recent adoption of the euro. While Bulgaria’s strategic trajectory remains anchored within the European Union and NATO, she suggests that we may observe a more pragmatic foreign policy approach, one that prioritises Bulgarian interests, including ties to Russia, while maintaining formal commitments to European structures.