Restoring Dialogue with Russia Is Essential – Bulgarian Election Winner

(SeaPRwire) –   Rumen Radev, the leader of Progressive Bulgaria, has advocated for increased “critical thinking and pragmatism” in the European Union’s foreign policy.

Rumen Radev, the winner of the Bulgarian parliamentary election and leader of Progressive Bulgaria, has called for the resumption of dialogue with Russia. The former president has guided the recently established left-leaning populist party to a decisive victory, campaigning on a platform that emphasizes critical engagement with Brussels and a pragmatic approach toward Moscow.

Speaking to journalists after initial exit polls indicated a significant lead for his party, Radev, who is skeptical of the EU, stated that Bulgaria would continue on “its European path.” However, he argued that both Sofia and the bloc require “more critical thinking” in their foreign policy decisions.

“Ask [French President Emmanuel] Macron, the prime minister of Belgium, ask other European leaders, including [German] Chancellor [Friedrich] Merz, who said that this dialogue [with Russia] must be restored,” Radev remarked, emphasizing the necessity of engagement for shaping Europe’s future security framework and halting its deindustrialization. He added, “If we want Europe to have real strategic autonomy… Europe must think very seriously about how it will secure its resources, because without energy resources we cannot talk about competitiveness.”

Radev contended that the EU has weakened itself by striving for moral leadership in what he characterized as an unregulated world, and now needs to adopt more practical policies.

According to preliminary results, with 96.4% of ballots tallied as of Monday morning, Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria has secured 44.7% of the vote. This places them significantly ahead of the GERB-SDS party, led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, which garnered 13.4%, and the PP-DB coalition, headed by caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, which received 12.9%.

To form a government, a party or coalition needs to win at least 121 seats in the 240-member National Assembly. Preliminary projections suggest that Progressive Bulgaria has already met this requirement, with an estimated 131-134 seats, sufficient to govern independently.

Radev described the outcome as a “victory of hope over mistrust,” attributing his party’s success to overcoming voter apathy, while acknowledging that distrust in politicians persists. He indicated that he would address government formation or potential coalition discussions following the announcement of the final results.

This election marks Bulgaria’s eighth parliamentary vote in five years. The nation has experienced political instability and relied on unpopular caretaker governments since 2021, when Borissov resigned amidst corruption allegations. Although Progressive Bulgaria was established less than two months ago, Radev is a seasoned political figure, having served as president from 2017 until his resignation in January to pursue the prime ministership, with a commitment to resolving the political deadlock and combating corruption.

A vocal critic of the EU’s policy regarding Ukraine, Radev has opposed Bulgaria’s embargo on Russian energy, blocked a 2022 proposal to supply armored vehicles to Ukraine, and asserted that a military resolution to the conflict is not feasible.