Bulgarians went to the polls on Sunday (April 19) in the eighth parliamentary election in five years, with the clear frontrunner, pro-Russian former president Rumen Radev, promising to end a spiral of weak, short-lived governments and stamp out widespread corruption.

Radev, a eurosceptic former fighter pilot who opposes military support for Ukraine's war effort against Moscow, stepped down from the presidency in January to run in the election, which comes after mass protests forced out the previous government in December.

A slick social media campaign, deep coffers, and a pledge of stability have boosted Radev's support in the Balkan country of about 6.5 million, where voters are weary of repeated snap polls and a small group of veteran politicians widely seen as corrupt.

Opinion polls on Friday (April 17) showed Radev's Progressive Bulgaria securing about 35% of the vote, up from a month ago. If confirmed, that would mark one of the strongest results by a single party in years, though still short of a parliamentary majority.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SOFIA, BULGARIA (APRIL 19, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF POLL WORKERS STANDING OUTSIDE POLLING STATION

2. POLL WORKERS ENTERING POLLING STATION, BEING CHECKED BY POLICE

3. VARIOUS OF POLL WORKER CHECKING VOTING MACHING

4. POLL WORKERS SEATED

5. MAN CASTING VOTE

6. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE REGISTERING FOR VOTE

7. WOMAN CASTING VOTE

8. VARIOUS OF POLL WORKER REGISTERING VOTER

9. MAN CASTING VOTE

10. MAN CASTING VOTE / MAN LEAVING

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) BULGARIAN RESIDENT, IVANOV (LAST NAME NOT GIVEN), SAYING:

"I want Bulgaria to be in the right direction."

JOURNALIST: "What is the right direction?"

"The right direction is the European Union and the euro."

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) BULGARIAN RESIDENT, SASHO NIKOLOV, SAYING:

"For us to stand closer to Russia. Things are very clear- like someone once said-very clear, but no one wants to act on them. Why should we import oil from America when Russia is right next door?"

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) BULGARIAN RESIDENT, BOGOMIL BARDARSKI, SAYING:

"Well, better politics, better for the people, so that things can...It's become very expensive. Production needs to develop, because it has declined a lot. And for us to live better."

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) BULGARIAN RESIDENT, RAINA MESSERSCHMIDT, SAYING:

"I think all Bulgarians know this- this is the corruption in Bulgaria, this is the judiciary. That's where absolutely everything begins."

15. (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) BULGARIAN RESIDENT, EVGENIY SHOH, SAYING:

"Well, only for the better. Finally, to get out of this swamp we've been in for what, over 30 years of transition, it hasn't even ended. It's the same people: oligarchs, organised crime, everything working together, keeping us in this situation, taking public resources, and nothing changes. We're just the poorest, and that's it, in the EU."

16. MAN CASTING VOTE

17. VARIOUS OF MAN AT VOTING MACHINE / MAN WALKING TO POLLING WORKERS

18. POLL WORKERS WORKING

19. WOMAN CASTING VOTE

20. POLL WORKERS REGISTERING FOR VOTE

21. MAN AT VOTING MACHINE

22. VARIOUS OF POLL WORKERS