EU, NATO Leaders Extend Congratulations to Radev After Bulgaria Win
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas congratulated Radev on the result and said she looked forward to working together “for the prosperity and security of Bulgaria and Europe.”
European Council President Antonio Costa also welcomed what he called Radev’s “outright victory,” adding that he looked forward to joint efforts toward “a prosperous, autonomous and secure Europe.”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he had spoken with Radev after the election and expressed optimism about continued cooperation on shared security challenges.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic likewise congratulated Radev and his Progressive Bulgaria party on what he described as a “convincing victory,” stressing confidence in ongoing collaboration on both bilateral and European matters.
Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria party secured victory in Sunday’s vote, the country’s eighth parliamentary election since 2021.
Radev, a former Air Force commander who served as Bulgaria’s president from 2017 until his resignation in 2026, formed the Progressive Bulgaria coalition earlier this year after stepping down to enter parliamentary politics, positioning himself as a candidate for prime minister.
His campaign focused heavily on anti-corruption reforms, promising to “root out the mafia and kick out the oligarchs,” which he said had weakened the EU’s least developed member state.
However, his skepticism toward Bulgaria’s recent adoption of the euro, along with his stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, has drawn concern among some European observers. He has previously described the EU’s support for Ukraine as a “doomed cause.”
In his victory speech, Radev pledged to build "a strong Bulgaria and a strong Europe."
He added: "What Europe needs right now is critical thinking, pragmatic actions and good results, especially to build a new security architecture and … recover its industrial power and competitiveness."
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