One of those shifts was on full display in Bulgaria. According to RT, former President Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria party secured a commanding 44.5% of the vote in what was the country’s eighth election in five years. The once-dominant GERB-SDS alliance trailed badly at 13.3%.
While coalition negotiations are still required, the result is being read as part of a broader, quieter trend: more European countries stepping back from rigid anti-Russian positioning. Radev, who resigned the largely ceremonial presidency in January to contest the parliamentary election, has long been seen as more pragmatic on Russia relations. His landslide suggests Bulgarian voters are fatigued by political instability and drawn to leaders who promise a less ideologically rigid foreign policy.
