Rumen Radev

Rule Changes

Leads Progressive Bulgaria government after April election win

Bulgarians voted on October 25 in a presidential election that will go to a runoff on November 1 after no candidate won a majority. Exit polls put incumbent Iliana Iotova three to four percentage points ahead of Andrey Gurov, and turnout was a record low.

Updated 2 days ago

Rule Changes

Prime Minister; publicly urged voters to back Yotova in the run-off, a move Gyurov's committee says broke election law

Bulgaria's presidential election goes to a November 1 run-off after first-round turnout fell to a record low of roughly 22%. Official counts show incumbent Iliana Yotova at 34.8% and former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov at 32%, a gap under 3 points.

Updated 2 days ago

Force in Play

Summoned the Russian ambassador after two ships were hit off Bulgaria; was due to meet NATO's secretary-general alongside Romania's president to discuss the Black Sea attacks

A drone hit the Comoros-flagged cargo ship Khoryv about 13 nautical miles off Romania's Constanta port on Oct. 23, killing at least one of its 13 Ukrainian and Azeri crew. Nine sailors were rescued, three are still missing, and President Nicușor Dan said the strike was part of Russia's escalation in its war in Ukraine.

Updated 4 days ago

Rule Changes

Election winner; awaiting parliamentary constitution before formal mandate to form government

Bulgaria held its eighth parliamentary election in five years on April 19, 2026. Former President Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria coalition won 44.7% of the vote—the largest single-party result in Bulgaria's democratic history—giving it roughly 130 seats and an outright majority in the 240-seat National Assembly. Radev resigned the presidency in January to form the party, riding a wave of anti-corruption anger after mass protests toppled the previous government in December 2025.

Updated May 31

Rule Changes

Acknowledged euro adoption while criticizing lack of referendum in New Year address

Bulgaria became the 21st eurozone member on January 1, 2026, replacing the lev at a fixed rate of 1.95583 per euro. Euro banknotes and coins began circulating at midnight, ending nearly three decades under a currency board.

Updated May 19