Bulgaria holds eighth parliamentary elections in five years

On April 19, 2026, Bulgaria held its eighth parliamentary election in five years following a period of political instability. The Progressive Bulgaria party, led by former president and retired fighter pilot Rumen Radev, emerged as the leading force. Exit polls provided conflicting results regarding the party's exact performance, with some sources reporting up to 45% of the vote and others estimating between 37.5% and 39.2%. The center-right GERB party of former prime minister Boyko Borisov trailed significantly with figures between 12.5% and 16.2%. Voter turnout estimates also varied between 43.4% and 60% according to different agencies. Radev campaigned on promises of political stability and anti-corruption, while expressing skepticism toward military aid for Ukraine and the recent adoption of the euro. Disagreement persists among analysts regarding whether his party can form a majority government, with some reports suggesting a possible single-party victory and others predicting the need for coalition negotiations in a fragmented parliament.