Ex-President Radev Triumphs in Bulgarian Election, Signals Shift Toward Russia

Bulgarian ex-president Rumen Radev, a prominent EU critic who has called for renewing ties with Russia, has emerged victorious in the country's eighth parliamentary election in five years. Radev's Progressive Bulgaria (PB) grouping is projected to secure an absolute majority of at least 129 seats in the 240-seat parliament, according to polling agency projections.

Radev's anti-establishment and Eurosceptic platform appears to have resonated with Bulgarian voters, who have grown increasingly disillusioned with the country's political instability and perceived lack of progress. The former president has promised to chart a more independent foreign policy course for Bulgaria, emphasizing the need to rebuild relations with Russia while maintaining the country's membership in the European Union.