Bulgarians headed to the polls on Sunday in what is remarkably the country’s eighth election in just five years. Turnout was up compared to previous rounds, suggesting voter fatigue may finally be giving way to a sense of urgency about the stakes.
The contest pits two visions for Bulgaria’s future against each other. Former President Rumen Radev, who opposes EU aid to Ukraine, has positioned himself as an anti-establishment crusader vowing to break the grip of the “oligarchic mafia.” His Progressive Bulgaria faction promises to balance relations between East and West. On the other side, Boyko Borissov’s GERB-SDS party is firmly aligned with Brussels’ foreign policy, offering “full support to Ukraine.” The outcome will have significant implications for Bulgaria’s orientation toward the EU, Kyiv, and Moscow at a moment when European unity is being tested on multiple fronts.
