Story perspectives

Radev Wins Bulgaria’s First Majority Since 1997

5/8/2026

Summary

Story summary

On May 8, 2026, parliament voted 124-70 to confirm Rumen Radev, former fighter pilot, as prime minister, giving his Progressive Bulgaria party 131 seats—the first outright majority since 1997.
Radev pledged to cut consumer prices, reform the Supreme Judicial Council and adopt the 2026 budget to unlock €400 million in EU funds.
Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President, congratulated the government and pledged cooperation on security, competitiveness and energy independence.

History

Historical Context

After joining the EU in 2007, Bulgaria pledged to adopt the euro, fixing the lev at 1.95583 per euro and entering ERM II in July 2020. Off-cycle convergence reports in June 2025 confirmed it met all criteria, leading to the euro’s introduction on 1 January 2026. The 2026 parliamentary election therefore builds on two decades of EU-driven reforms.

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Story summary

On May 8, 2026, parliament voted 124-70 to confirm Rumen Radev, former fighter pilot, as prime minister, giving his Progressive Bulgaria party 131 seats—the first outright majority since 1997.
Radev pledged to cut consumer prices, reform the Supreme Judicial Council and adopt the 2026 budget to unlock €400 million in EU funds.
Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President, congratulated the government and pledged cooperation on security, competitiveness and energy independence.

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