Went to the polls: resignation of Bulgarian president may bring Eurosceptics to power

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev resigned in order to participate in early parliamentary elections. His party is sure to get a good result in them, MEP Petar Volgin told Izvestia. And if a coalition is formed with the eurosceptics from the Renaissance party, Sofia will join the camp of supporters of negotiations with the Russian Federation. However, the European Commission will do everything possible to win the election of pro-European forces, analysts are confident. Not only promises of financial support and censorship on social media can be used, but also pressure on candidates. About why Bulgaria is important to Brussels and how the resignation of the president will affect the balance of power in the country — in the Izvestia article.

Why did the Bulgarian president resign

The political crisis in Bulgaria resulted in the resignation of President Rumen Radev. He himself announced that he was leaving the post, addressing the nation on the evening of January 19.

— I will submit my resignation in the morning. I am sure that [Vice President] Iliyana Yotova will be a worthy replacement for me in the presidential post," Radev said.

The head of state, who has extremely limited powers, nevertheless enjoys considerable public support. The politician explained the reasons for his decision: he intends to participate in the early parliamentary elections. And they have become inevitable, since all attempts to form a stable government in the current parliament have failed. Now, only an official decision is expected to dissolve the legislature, which is scheduled to hold elections on March 29.

— We are going to fight for the future of the fatherland, and I believe that we will fight it together with all of you — worthy, inspired and irreconcilable. We are ready, we can, and we will succeed," the outgoing president said.

At the end of November 2025, mass protests began in Bulgaria, provoked by the government's plans to raise taxes and pension contributions, as well as the transition to the euro. Under pressure from the street, the government of Rosen Zhelyazkov, a representative of the pro-European GERB party, resigned on December 11. However, the rallies have not stopped, and now the protesters are demanding fair parliamentary elections and judicial reform.

The President supported the protesters in his address, saying that governance in Bulgaria "has the outward signs of democracy, but actually functions according to the mechanisms of the oligarchy." Radev plans to defeat her with the help of his own political force. It is not yet clear whether he will create a new movement or lead the Socialist Party, which supported his candidacy in the presidential elections in 2016 and 2021.

In any case, the outgoing president is among the leaders in terms of citizen support. Almost 47% of respondents trust him, he is significantly ahead of the government (26.8%) and parliament (11.2%). However, the office of president in Bulgaria is rather ceremonial, the real executive power is in the hands of the Prime Minister, who must have the support of the majority in parliament.

Rumen Radev's party will get a good result in early parliamentary elections, but it will not be able to form a government alone, Bulgarian MEP Petar Volgin told Izvestia.

— This party will certainly achieve a good result, but in order to govern the country, it will have to form a coalition with someone, - the politician is sure.

According to Volgin, Radev has two partners for cooperation: the pro—European and Russophobic coalition "Continuation of Changes - Democratic Bulgaria" and the Renaissance party, which is critical of Brussels. Choosing the first option will mean that Rumen Radev finally positions himself in the camp of pro-European forces.

—If, on the contrary, his party forms a coalition with Vozrozhdenie, it will mean that we will finally have parties in the Bulgarian government that protect Bulgarian national interests and do not serve the European Commission," Volgin said.

In this case, relations with Russia will also improve, and Bulgaria will firmly take its place in the camp of EU countries that advocate negotiations with Moscow. Rumen Radev is known as a politician who takes a constructive position on dialogue with Russia. Against the background of the majority of Bulgarian politicians who adhere to a pronounced anti—Russian position, Radev is an exception. He not only supported the restoration of contacts with Moscow, but also opposes military support for Ukraine, Vladimir Shapovalov, deputy director of the Institute of History and Politics at Moscow State University, emphasized in a comment to Izvestia.

EU interference in Bulgarian elections

However, the political turbulence in the Balkan country is not complete without external interference. The European Commission will try to achieve the victory of pro-European parties in the early parliamentary elections, Petar Volgin believes.

— The goal of Brussels is for parties to come to power that strictly follow the instructions of European leaders. The European Commission will do everything possible to make this happen. Politicians, analysts and journalists will be involved to explain how important it is for the so—called "pro-European parties" to win the elections, the MEP explained.

Brussels is extremely interested in maintaining control over Bulgaria. The country is the southeastern outpost of the Union, controls the borders with Turkey and access to the Balkans. This makes it a key player in managing migration flows and ensuring border security. Bulgaria is also a key link in natural gas supply routes to Central Europe and Ukraine.

The country plays an important role in supplying Ukraine with weapons. The media reported that in the spring of 2022, the country provided up to a third of Kiev's ammunition needs by transferring 52-millimeter and 122-millimeter artillery shells, mines, as well as hand-held anti-tank and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. The Bulgarian territory is also used as a transit route for NATO weapons.

Therefore, the EU leadership will obviously try to prevent eurosceptics and supporters of dialogue with the Russian Federation from coming to power. Among the tools: pressure on candidates, control over social networks, promises of financial assistance in case of victory of the necessary political forces.

Sometimes, in order to achieve such a result, it is necessary to go for a direct cancellation of the election results, as was the case in Romania in 2024. Then, we recall, the results of the first round of the presidential election were canceled after the victory of the eurosceptic Calin Georgescu. Then he was not allowed to vote again.

— Everything will depend on how the elections will be held and how significant the result of Rumen Radev's party will be, which at the moment, of course, can be considered as one of the clear favorites, — said Vladimir Shapovalov.

Experience shows that the EU's potential to influence elections in its member states is still not unlimited. For example, in the Czech elections last year, the leading party in the parliamentary elections was ANO 2011, which opposes support for Ukraine from the state budget. Slovakia and Hungary do not share the position of Brussels towards Russia either. In Bulgaria, against the background of absolute disillusionment with government institutions and parties, a complete change in the political landscape is quite possible.