Rumen Radev and the million-strong protest crushed the system

ArmInfo. What has happened in Bulgaria in the last few months is more than just a change of power. It's a political earthquake. After millions of protesters took to the streets of Sofia and other cities in late 2025 and early 2026, it became clear: the old Bulgaria is becoming history. This is the opinion expressed by Bulgarian political analysts.

December 2025 marked the beginning of the end for the old elite. The government's attempt to impose a "belt-tightening" budget for 2026 amid corruption scandals was the last straw. Popular anger was so widespread that the Zhelyazkov government didn't simply resign—it fled under the pressure of a nationwide strike.

Millions of people in the squares demanded one thing: cleansing. Rumen Radev found himself at the center of this movement. He didn't simply support the streets; he became their political battering ram, declaring that "the mafia must leave the institutions of power."

Bulgaria hadn't seen such a resounding result in decades. For the past 15-20 years, the political scene has been fragmented, and no force could boast a genuine popular mandate. Today, the situation has changed. The Progressive Bulgaria coalition, led by Radev, achieved the impossible, winning over 45% of the vote in the elections. This is an absolute record, transforming Radev from a presidential arbiter into a fully-fledged architect of the new executive branch.

Key Points of Rumen Radev's Program (Mandate 2026)

The people voted for concrete and tough steps that Rumen Radev promised to implement immediately:

• A ruthless anti-corruption purge: Elimination of "state capture models" and an audit of all major public procurement in recent years.

• Economic stability: Repeal of the predatory tax initiatives of the previous government and a freeze on energy prices.

• Direct democracy: Strengthening the role of referendums and the direct accountability of officials to voters.

• Social protection: Immediate revision of pensions and minimum wages to compensate for inflation.

New Parliament: Balance of Power (as of April 20, 2026) Based on the processing of over 91% of the protocols, the composition of the 51st People's Assembly is as follows. Radev receives not just a majority, but the ability to shape the agenda single-handedly or with minimal partners.

Progressive Bulgaria (Rumen Radev) 44.7% 131 seats

GERB-SDS (Boyko Borisov) 13.4% 39 seats

PP-DB (Asen Vasilev) 13.2% 39 seats

DPS – New Beginning (Delyan Peevski) 6.2% 18 seats

MECH Party 4.4% 13 seats

Revival Party 4.3% 12 seats

Rumen Radev's victory with 131 out of 240 mandates marks the end of an era of political stagnation. For the first time in many years, Bulgaria has a government that relies not on backroom deals, but on the will of millions of people who stood on the barricades just a few months ago. This is a victory of hope over fear, and now Radev has all the tools to prove that these hopes were not in vain.