Pro-Russian former President Rumen Radev is set for a runaway victory in Bulgaria's election, exit polls showed on Sunday, after promising to end a spiral of weak, short-lived governments, although he will need coalition partners to form a majority in parliament.

Radev, a eurosceptic and 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 parliamentary election, which comes after mass protests forced out the previous government in December.

He rode a wave of frustration with political instability in the Balkan country of 6.5 million people, which has seen eight elections in five years and where voters are sick of corruption and veteran parties that have dominated politics for decades.

"Distrust in Bulgarian politics is still high and we still have a lot of work ahead. This is only the first step toward restoring that trust and the social contract." Radev said after exit polls were released on Sunday. "This is a victory of hope over distrust, a victory of freedom over fear, and finally, if you will, a victory of morality. Because the people rejected the complacency and arrogance of the old parties

The final exit poll conducted by Sofia-based Alpha Research showed Radev's Progressive Bulgaria with 38.1%, more than double the second-place GERB party, led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, which got 15.9%. The exact percentages of other exit polls varied, but still showed a strong Radev win.

If confirmed, the outcome would mark one of the strongest results by a single party in years.

Radev said that he would be willing to work with the pro-European reformist We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition, which came third in the Alpha Research exit polls with 14.1%, on judicial reform, but said that a minority government was also an option in the 240-seat parliament.

In his campaign, Radev talked about improving relations with Moscow and resuming the free flow of Russian oil and gas into Europe.

It is not clear how much that will impact the foreign policy of Bulgaria, a NATO and the European Union member which joined the euro zone in January — a move Radev has criticized.

You should know that Bulgaria will make efforts to continue its European path, but believe me, a strong Bulgaria i"n a strong Europe needs critical thinking and pragmatism, because Europe has fallen victim to its own ambition to be a moral leader in a world without rules," he told reporters Sunday eveniong. "So what Europe needs right now is again critical thinking, pragmatic actions, and good results. Especially in building a new security architecture and paying a lot of efforts to recover its industrial power and competitiveness.

Final election results are expected on Monday.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

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

1. BULGARIA'S PRO-RUSSIAN FORMER PRESIDENT, RUMEN RADEV LEAVING HEADQUARTERS OF "PROGRESSIVE BULGARIA" PARTY, APPROACHING MEDIA

2. RADEV'S ELECTION POSTER

3. MEDIA FILMING

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BULGARIA'S PRO-RUSSIAN FORMER PRESIDENT, RUMEN RADEV, SAYING:

"You should know that Bulgaria will make efforts to continue its European path, but believe me, a strong Bulgaria in a strong Europe needs critical thinking and pragmatism, because Europe has fallen victim to its own ambition to be a moral leader in a world without rules. So what Europe needs right now is again critical thinking, pragmatic actions, and good results. Especially in building a new security architecture and paying a lot of efforts to recover its industrial power and competitiveness. That will be the main contribution of Bulgaria to its European mission."

5. MEDIA FILMING

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) BULGARIA'S PRO-RUSSIAN FORMER PRESIDENT, RUMEN RADEV, SAYING:

“We voted actively, we overcame apathy, but distrust in Bulgarian politics is still high and we still have a lot of work ahead. This is only the first step toward restoring that trust and the social contract. Progressive Bulgaria won decisively. This is a victory of hope over distrust, a victory of freedom over fear, and finally, if you will, a victory of morality. Because the people rejected the complacency and arrogance of the old parties and did not succumb to the lies and manipulations”

7. MEDIA FILMING

8. RADEV LEAVING

9. VARIOUS OF RADEV'S ELECTION POSTER