Bulgarians set to vote in eighth election since 2021 as anger over corruption grows

Bulgaria heads to the polls on Sunday (19 April) for its eighth election in five years, amid mounting public frustration over corruption scandals and repeated government collapses. 

With more than 20 parties competing and no single party expected to win a majority, there are no guarantees of further stability. 

Collapse of previous government 

Bulgaria’s centre-right coalition government resigned after just one year in power in December 2025, following mass protests over plans to raise taxes on the private sector to fund public sector pay rises.

Critics said the proposal would increase government control over the military, police and other institutions. The demonstrations drew tens of thousands to the streets of the capital, Sofia, in one of the largest protest movements in Bulgaria’s history.

The coalition comprised the centre-right GERB party, the pro-Russia Bulgarian Socialist Party, and the populist There Is Such a People party.

Former president leads in polls

A three-party coalition led by former president Rumen Radev is currently ahead in the polls and is expected to secure around 30% of the vote - a result that could allow it to form a government with just one additional partner.

Radev’s campaign has focused on tackling corruption, particularly networks linking political elites, business interests and the judiciary.

The 62-year-old is widely seen as more Russia-friendly and sceptical of European Union policies, including support for Ukraine and the adoption of the euro.

Bulgaria joined the euro on 1 January but polls suggest slightly more Bulgarians are against the Euro than in favour of it. 

The country remains the EU’s poorest member state, although GDP per capita has improved over the past two decades and emigration has slowed.

Fragmented political landscape

If Radev’s bloc wins, it will still likely need support from smaller parties to form a government.

One potential partner is the pro-European alliance We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria. However, sharp differences in foreign policy, particularly over Ukraine and relations with Russia, could complicate negotiations.

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It is unlikely Radev will seek support from GERB, the dominant force in previous governments, as he has repeatedly linked the party to systemic corruption.

An alternative option would be to form a coalition with nationalist parties aligned with his cautious foreign policy stance, though such an alliance may struggle to secure a parliamentary majority.

Public frustration at breaking point 

Bulgaria’s political deadlock stems from a fragmented landscape that emerged after the end of GERB’s long period in power in 2021. The party had dominated elections in the Balkan nation for much of the previous decade.

The crisis is now in its sixth year, with the country heading into its eighth parliamentary election over that period.

Jan Nowinowski, a fellow at the Centre for Eastern Studies, said the vote could offer a chance to restore stability.

“Following Rumen Radev’s resignation as president and the formation of his party, there is a chance for stability,” he said.

“However, Bulgarian politics remains unpredictable, and the crisis could continue if coalition talks fail.”

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