Trending Now - Bulgaria Holds Elections Amid Pro-russian Sentiment and Frequent Votes

WHO:

CNN - Rumen Radev, pro-Russian former President of Bulgaria, is the frontrunner in the election.

Al Jazeera - Boyko Borissov, former Prime Minister and leader of the GERB party, is a significant political figure in Bulgaria.

Al Jazeera - Delyan Peevski, leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, is under US and UK sanctions for corruption.

WHAT:

CNN - Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party is projected to secure about 35% of the vote, which would mark one of the strongest results by a single party in years, though still short of a parliamentary majority.

Al Jazeera - With 32% of the votes counted, Progressive Bulgaria was in the lead with 44.59% according to preliminary results.

Al Jazeera - An updated exit poll conducted by Sofia-based Alpha Research showed Radev’s party winning 44% of the vote.

Newsweek - The GERB party, led by Boyko Borissov, is expected to finish second with about 20% support, ahead of the liberal PP-DB alliance.

Al Jazeera - Former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's GERB party was trailing in second place with 12.5% of the vote according to the exit poll.

Al Jazeera - The pro-European We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition is expected to receive around 14% of the vote.

Politico - Radev hinted he could find common ground with the pro-Brussels reformist camp over shaking up the corruption-plagued judiciary, stating, “I am ready to go with different options so Bulgaria can have a functional and stable government.”

Al Jazeera - Radev stated, “We will do everything possible not to allow us to go [to elections] again. It is ruinous for Bulgaria,” after the exit poll was released.

CNN - Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party is projected to secure about 35% of the vote, which is an increase from a month ago.

Al Jazeera - With 32% of the votes counted, Progressive Bulgaria was in the lead with 44.59% according to preliminary results.

Al Jazeera - An updated exit poll conducted by Sofia-based Alpha Research showed Radev’s party winning 44% of the vote.

Newsweek - The GERB party, led by Boyko Borissov, is expected to finish second with about 20% support, ahead of the liberal PP-DB alliance.

Al Jazeera - Preliminary results showed Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party leading with 44.59% of the votes counted.

Al Jazeera - An updated exit poll conducted by Sofia-based Alpha Research indicated Radev's party winning 44% of the vote.

Al Jazeera - Former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's GERB party was trailing in second place with 12.5% of the vote according to the exit poll.

Newsweek - Only a handful of European countries have maintained solid ties with Russia throughout the more than four years of war in Ukraine.

CNN - Radev stated, “We need, finally, a path to democratic, modern European Bulgaria,” after casting his ballot in Sofia.

CNN - Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party is projected to secure about 35% of the vote, which would mark one of the strongest results by a single party in years, though still short of a parliamentary majority.

CNN - A poll by Sofia-based Alpha Research forecasts voter turnout of around 60%, nearly double the 34% recorded in June 2024.

CNN - Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party is projected to secure about 35% of the vote, which is an increase from a month ago.

CNN - The GERB party, led by Boyko Borissov, is expected to finish second with about 18% of the vote.

CNN - Preliminary results from the election could be available later on April 16th, 2026, or on April 17th, 2026.

Al Jazeera - The pro-European We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition is expected to receive around 14% of the vote.

Politico - Radev hinted at the possibility of forming a majority with pro-EU liberal reformists or aligning with the Socialist party and nationalists to create a pro-Moscow governing bloc.

CNN - Bulgarians voted in the eighth parliamentary election in five years on April 16th, 2026.

CNN - Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party secured about 35% of the vote according to opinion polls.

Al Jazeera - Polling stations opened at 7:00 AM local time (04:00 GMT) and closed at 5:00 PM GMT on April 16th, 2026.

Al Jazeera - Voter turnout is forecasted to be around 60%, nearly double the 34% recorded in June 2024.

WHERE:

CNN - Voting took place across Bulgaria, a country with a population of approximately 6.5 million.

CNN - Radev cast his ballot in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.

WHEN:

Al Jazeera - Official results are expected on April 17th, 2026.

Al Jazeera - Official results are likely to be released on April 17th, 2026.

CNN - The election occurred on April 16th, 2026.

CNN - Polls closed at 8:00 PM local time (1:00 PM ET) on April 16th, 2026.

Al Jazeera - Official results are expected on April 17th, 2026.

WHY:

Al Jazeera - The December protests drew hundreds of thousands of mainly young people to the streets, calling for an independent judiciary to tackle widespread corruption.

Al Jazeera - The December protests that led to the previous government's downfall were driven by calls for an independent judiciary to tackle widespread corruption.

CNN - The election follows mass protests that forced out the previous government in December 2025.

Al Jazeera - Radev aims to rid Bulgaria of its "oligarchic governance model" and has backed anti-corruption protests.

HOW:

CNN - Radev's campaign was supported by a slick social media strategy and significant financial backing.

Politico - Radev has encouraged Ukraine to sue for peace and does not support sending arms to Kyiv, stating that his insistence that Crimea is “Russian” reflects a strategic reality.

Al Jazeera - Radev has opposed Bulgarian efforts to supply arms to Ukraine in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion and has criticized a 10-year defense agreement signed in March 2026 between Bulgaria and Ukraine.

Politico - Radev has established his political reputation by positioning himself against the country's oligarchic "mafia state" while his opponents argue that his policies align with Kremlin interests, particularly regarding Ukraine.

CNN - Radev's campaign was supported by a slick social media strategy and significant financial backing.

Al Jazeera - Radev resigned from the presidency in January 2026 to run for prime minister.

(UPDATED April 20, 2026 11:19 UTC)

Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party is projected to secure about 35% of the vote, marking one of the strongest results by a single party in years, though still short of a parliamentary majority. With 32% of the votes counted, preliminary results show Progressive Bulgaria leading with approximately 44.59%, while the GERB party, led by Boyko Borissov, is expected to finish second with around 20% support. Radev has expressed a commitment to forming a stable government, stating that he is ready to explore options with pro-European reformists to address the corruption-plagued judiciary in Bulgaria.

(UPDATED April 20, 2026 07:32 UTC)

Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party is projected to secure about 35% of the vote, marking an increase from a month ago, with preliminary results showing them in the lead with nearly 44.6% of the votes counted. The GERB party, led by Boyko Borissov, is expected to finish second with around 20% support, ahead of the liberal PP-DB alliance. Radev has also encouraged Ukraine to pursue peace and has expressed his opposition to sending arms to Kyiv, emphasizing his view that Crimea is “Russian.”

(UPDATED April 20, 2026 04:03 UTC)

Preliminary results from the recent elections in Bulgaria show Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party leading with nearly 45% of the votes counted, while an updated exit poll indicates they secured 44% of the vote. In contrast, former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's GERB party is trailing in second place with just 12.5%. Official results are expected to be released on Friday.

(UPDATED April 20, 2026 01:20 UTC)

In a significant election in Bulgaria, President Radev expressed the need for a democratic and modern European Bulgaria after casting his ballot in Sofia, with his Progressive Bulgaria party projected to secure about 35% of the vote, a strong showing but still short of a parliamentary majority. Voter turnout is expected to be around 60%, a notable increase from the 34% recorded in June 20th24, reflecting heightened public engagement following widespread protests demanding judicial independence to combat corruption. Radev also indicated a willingness to collaborate with pro-Brussels reformists to address issues within the judiciary, while continuing to oppose Bulgarian arms supplies to Ukraine and criticizing a recent defense agreement with the country.

(UPDATED April 19, 2026 19:12 UTC)

Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party is projected to secure about 35% of the vote in the recent elections, marking an increase from a month ago, while the GERB party, led by Boyko Borissov, is expected to finish second with around 18%. The pro-European We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria coalition is anticipated to receive about 14% of the vote, and preliminary results could be available later on Thursday or on Friday. Radev has built his political reputation by opposing the country's oligarchic "mafia state," although his opponents claim his policies may align with Kremlin interests, especially concerning Ukraine.

(UPDATED April 19, 2026 13:16 UTC)

Bulgarians participated in their eighth parliamentary election in five years on Thursday, with Rumen Radev, the pro-Russian former President, emerging as the frontrunner, securing about 35% of the vote according to opinion polls. Voter turnout was forecasted to be around 60%, a significant increase from the 34% seen in June 20th24, as polling stations opened at 7:00 AM local time and closed at 8:00 PM. Radev, who resigned from the presidency in January to run for prime minister, has pledged to eliminate Bulgaria's "oligarchic governance model" and has been a vocal supporter of anti-corruption protests.