Bulgaria's former President Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party won the April 19 parliamentary election by a landslide, securing nearly 45% of the vote and at least 135 seats in the 240-seat National Assembly, Reuters reported on April 20. Radev stated he would seek coalition partners, and the liberal, pro-EU We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria coalition, which placed third at around 13%, has signaled openness to cooperation.

The vote marked Bulgaria's eighth election since 2021, reflecting a prolonged period of deep political fragmentation, instability, entrenched party rivalries and repeated failures to form durable governments. The latest vote was triggered by the December 2025 collapse of the previous administration after mass nationwide protests over a proposed budget with tax increases and broader corruption allegations. Radev resigned as president in January after nine years in office to launch a new political movement amid rising public demand for systemic change and accountability.