Orban’s ‘double’ in Sofia: the EU is worried about Bulgaria and Radev

The central figure of the election cycle was the former president Rumen Radev, who managed to capitalize on voters’ dissatisfaction with the existing parties through the new political platform Progressive Bulgaria. He based his campaign on strong anti-corruption rhetoric and criticism of the “oligarchic model” which, according to his claims, has controlled Bulgarian institutions, the media and the economy for years. In a political sense, Radev positions himself as a leader who tries to unite different social strata, from rural voters to urban groups disappointed by the political establishment.

His performance was marked by a combination of strong state rhetoric and avoidance of strict ideological alignment, which enabled him to have a wide political reach, but also left open questions about the future direction of politics. Special attention is drawn to his views on foreign policy. Radev repeatedly criticized military assistance. Ukraine and advocated the need for a diplomatic approach to Russia, which places him among European politicians who question part of the European Union’s common line towards the war in Ukraine.

They are in the campaign at the same time, other political options collided, from the conservative GERB of former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov to pro-European and nationalist parties, which further emphasized the deep political fragmentation of the country. Nevertheless, the common denominator of almost all actors remains the fight against corruption and distrust in existing political structures. Bulgaria is growingć has been in an institutional crisis for years, with numerous changes of government and the impossibility of forming a stable majority. Since 2021, the country has had a series of short-lived administrations, and the political system remains trapped between opposing blocs without clear winners.

The Bulgarian case fits into the trend of strengthening political leaders who combine criticism of the EU. Similar patterns are visible in different parts of the European Union, from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who balances between pragmatism and conservative politics, through Janez Janš, who could disrupt the new, right-wing Slovenian government, to Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, who is close to Russia and extremely critical of Brussels’ policies.