Bulgaria: Pro-Russian Radev takes the lead in the early vote count.

Roshni Majumdar   DW19 April 2026
Exit polls put Rumen Radev’s new, left-leaning, pro-Russian party far ahead following Bulgaria’s eighth election in five years.

Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria party had 44.6% of the vote after 60% of ballots were counted.

The party’s performance is better than expected and appears to be one of the largest parliamentary mandates by any party in recent years.