Former fighter pilot Rumen Radev has vowed to lead Bulgaria out of a chronic political crisis, with his grouping winning Sunday's general election – the eighth in five years. The 62-year-old has presented himself as a defender of the poor of the EU's poorest country as he walks a tightrope on European issues. He has hailed the benefits Bulgaria has reaped from EU membership while calling for dialogue with Russia as its invasion of Ukraine rages into a fifth year of fighting.
Rumen Radev, pro-Russia ex-pilot who wants to give Bulgaria wings
Political Leaning Analysis
Score: 0.00 •
Center / Neutral
Left
Center
Right
Story Timeline
Wed 17:00 - SRF International
Elections after Gen Z protests – Bulgaria wants a fresh start
Wed 17:00 - SRF Wirtschaft
Elections after Gen Z protests – Bulgaria wants a fresh start
Thu 04:00 - Euronews
Seeking rest and relaxation? Bulgaria taps into the wellness trend as spa tourism rises 15%
Thu 15:00 - Euronews
Bulgaria prepares for disinformation ahead of snap elections
Fri 07:31 - DW All
Will Bulgaria's election change the country's course?
Fri 07:31 - DW Top
Will Bulgaria's election change the country's course?
Fri 07:31 - DW World
Will Bulgaria's election change the country's course?
Fri 07:31 - DW
Will Bulgaria's election change the country's course?
Fri 07:46 - Euronews
Watch: Sunday elections — Bulgaria's fight for stable government?
Fri 10:24 - Euronews
After Hungary, will the Budapest effect spread to Bulgaria as the country prepares to vote Sunday?
Fri 12:56 - Al Jazeera English
Bulgaria elections: Who’s running and what’s at stake?
Sat 04:00 - Financial Times
Putin’s ‘Trojan horse’ ahead in Bulgarian election
Sun 01:21 - France 24
Bulgaria heads to the polls in eighth general election in five years
Sun 03:21 - Tagesschau
Bulgaria is voting - for the eighth time in five years
Sun 04:00 - Le Monde
Parliamentary elections in Bulgaria: corruption and links with Russia at the heart of the campaign
Sun 04:01 - NYT Europe
What to Know About the Bulgarian Election
Sun 05:35 - Al Jazeera English
Bulgarians head to polls for eighth time in five years
Sun 06:08 - La Libre (BE)
Rumen Radev, the Mr. Clean who wants to reconnect with Moscow, favorite to become the next Bulgarian Prime Minister
Sun 06:16 - n-tv Politik
New elections again: Bulgaria's former head of state Radev is fighting for victory
Sun 06:35 - DW
Bulgarians vote in high-stakes election
Sun 06:35 - DW All
Bulgarians vote in high-stakes election
Sun 06:35 - DW Top
Bulgarians vote in high-stakes election
Sun 06:35 - DW World
Bulgarians vote in high-stakes election
Sun 07:02 - Handelsblatt Politik
Parliamentary elections: Former head of state Radev fights for victory in Bulgaria
Sun 07:09 - ANSA Main
Elections begin in Bulgaria, with former president Radev's centre-left favored
Sun 09:45 - The Guardian
Bulgaria votes as pro-Russian former president leads in the polls
Sun 10:59 - Euronews
Bulgaria votes in eighth election in five years
Sun 16:09 - El Mundo (ES)
Radev wins in Bulgaria, according to the first exit polls
Sun 17:06 - Politico EU
Russia-aligned Rumen Radev wins landslide in Bulgaria
Sun 17:19 - DW World
Bulgaria: Pro-Russian Radev leading after parliamentary vote, exit polls show
Sun 17:39 - Handelsblatt Politik
New election in Bulgaria: Russia-friendly ex-president is ahead, according to election forecasts
Sun 18:05 - Euronews
Rumen Radev wins in Bulgaria, says Europe is 'a victim of its ambition to act as a moral leader.'
Sun 19:49 - Tagesschau
Forecast: Former President Radev's alliance ahead in Bulgarian election
Sun 19:57 - Süddeutsche Zeitung Politik
Bulgaria: Projection: Former President Radev's party wins election
Sun 20:02 - n-tv Politik
Triumph for Rumen Radev: Russia-friendly PB electoral alliance wins in Bulgaria
Sun 20:47 - Al Jazeera English
Bulgaria election: Ex-President Radev’s party leads in early results
Sun 20:53 - NYT Europe
Bulgarian Voters Back New Political Coalition Led by Radev
Sun 21:37 - Financial Times
Pro-Russia ex-president claims victory in Bulgaria’s elections
Sun 22:25 - France 24
Bulgaria's pro-Russian former president takes strong lead
Mon 03:06 - Die Welt
Overwhelming majority for Russia-friendly former President Radev in Bulgarian election
Mon 03:46 - Tagesschau
Former President Radev is the clear election winner in Bulgaria
Mon 04:05 - SRF International
Bulgarian parliamentary election – Who is the winner Rumen Radev?
Mon 04:05 - SRF Wirtschaft
Bulgarian parliamentary election – Who is the winner Rumen Radev?
Mon 04:16 - Die Welt
Overwhelming majority for Russia-friendly former President Radev in Bulgarian election
Mon 04:39 - SRF International
Parliamentary election – Bulgaria: Ex-President Radev ahead according to forecasts
Mon 04:50 - BBC Europe
Rumen Radev looks set to win Bulgarian Parliamentary election
Mon 05:00 - Financial Times
Why Moscow-friendly Radev is unlikely to become Bulgaria’s Orbán
Mon 05:13 - n-tv Politik
Radev becomes new head of government: Russia-friendly party clearly the strongest force in the Bulgarian election
Mon 05:16 - Handelsblatt Politik
New election: Russia-friendly ex-president leads the election in Bulgaria
Mon 05:51 - Euronews
Europe Today: Russia-friendly Radev wins in Bulgaria as Orbán hints at lifting EU Ukraine loan veto
Mon 07:09 - Euronews
Bulgaria's Radev 'pro-EU on surface' but a 'practical Trojan horse for Kremlin', says expert
Mon 07:30 - DW
Bulgaria: Pro-Russian Radev takes lead in early vote count
Mon 07:30 - DW All
Bulgaria: Pro-Russian Radev takes lead in early vote count
Mon 07:30 - DW Top
Bulgaria: Pro-Russian Radev takes lead in early vote count
Mon 07:30 - DW World
Bulgaria: Pro-Russian Radev takes lead in early vote count
Mon 07:39 - France 24
'Unprecedented since 1999': Radev secures absolute majority with reformist and eurosceptic coalition
Mon 07:46 - France 24
Bulgaria's Kremlin-friendly former president Radev wins parliamentary election
Mon 07:52 - SRF International
Parliamentary election – Bulgaria: Ex-President Radev is ahead
Mon 09:16 - DW
Bulgaria: Pro-Russia Rumen Radev on course to win election
Mon 09:16 - DW All
Bulgaria: Pro-Russia Rumen Radev on course to win election
Mon 09:16 - DW Top
Bulgaria: Pro-Russia Rumen Radev on course to win election
Mon 09:16 - DW World
Bulgaria: Pro-Russia Rumen Radev on course to win election
Mon 09:19 - France 24
Bulgaria's former President Radev takes strong lead in election
Mon 09:20 - France 24
Bulgaria Kremlin-friendly ex-president wins parliamentary majority
Mon 10:15 - France 24
Rumen Radev, pro-Russia ex-pilot who wants to give Bulgaria wings
Mon 10:22 - Die Welt
In Bulgaria, a friend of Russia wins – Europe's fear of a new Orbán
Mon 10:42 - The Guardian
Kremlin ‘impressed’ with Bulgarian election winner Radev’s call for pragmatic dialogue with Moscow – Europe live
Mon 10:53 - DW All
Bulgaria enters uncharted territory as Radev wins big
Mon 10:53 - DW Top
Bulgaria enters uncharted territory as Radev wins big