Pro-Russian Former President Wins Bulgarian Presidential Election

According to updated data released by the Bulgarian Central Election Commission, as of 08:00 on April 20, with 78.24% of protocols processed, former president Rumen Radev's party, 'Progressive Bulgaria', has received 44.48% of the votes.

In second place is the pro-Western bloc 'We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria', which gathered 13.65% of the votes, while the 'GERB-SDS' coalition ranks third with 13.18%. The 'Movement for Rights and Freedoms' (5.86%) and the 'Revival' party (4.43%) are also entering the parliament. The Bulgarian Socialist Party ('BSP - United Left') failed to overcome the threshold, receiving 3.03% of the votes.

Rumen Radev has stated that the state will remain committed to its European direction, but emphasized the importance of pragmatism and a critical approach. He expressed the view that Europe has fallen victim to its own ambitions by trying to be a moral leader with new rules.