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Bulgaria's pro-Russian Former President Takes Strong Lead in Election, Exit Polls Show
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 19, 2026
1 min readLast updated: April 19, 2026
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Progressive Bulgaria, led by ex‑President Rumen Radev, is shown by exit polls to lead Bulgaria’s April 19 parliamentary election with 37.5% of the vote amid voter fatigue after years of instability and widespread anti‑corruption sentiment.
Pro-Russian Former Bulgarian President Radev Leads Election with 37.5%
Bulgarian Parliamentary Election Results
Exit Poll Overview
Progressive Bulgaria's Performance
Alpha Research Exit Poll Findings
SOFIA, April 19 (Reuters) - Progressive Bulgaria, the party of Bulgaria's pro-Russian former president Rumen Radev was seen leading in Sunday's parliamentary election with 37.5% of the votes, the Alpha Research exit poll showed.
(Reporting by Ivana Sekularac)
Key Takeaways
- •Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria is far ahead of main rival GERB, capitalizing on public frustration with repeated elections and oligarchic politics
- •Turnout is surging—polls expect around 60%, nearly double that of 2024—boosted by efforts to curb vote‑buying and Radev’s mobilizing appeal
- •Despite the commanding lead, Progressive Bulgaria likely falls short of a majority and will need coalition partners to form a government
Frequently Asked Questions about Bulgaria's pro-Russian former president takes strong lead in election, exit polls show
1Which party does former president Rumen Radev represent?
Rumen Radev represents the party Progressive Bulgaria.
