Watch: Sunday elections — Bulgaria's fight for stable government?

Published on 17/04/2026 - 9:46 GMT+2

On paper, Bulgaria is simply a caller European occurrence story, having yet adopted the euro connected the archetypal of January and joined Schengen. But determination is simply a large euro hangover. On the ground, citizens consciousness impoverished and ignored by the governmental class.

This profound vexation has acceptable the signifier for a bitter showdown betwixt 2 large figures.

On 1 broadside is Boyko Borissov. He is the seasoned centre-right person of the GERB party. While firmly pro-European, helium was plagued by scandals during his decennary successful power, making him the awesome of the entrenched establishment.

Facing him is Rumen Radev, the left-leaning erstwhile president who sensationally resigned successful January to tally for premier minister. Radev is riding a question of fashionable anger, campaigning to dismantle the oligarchy. But his vocal absorption to subject assistance for Ukraine and softer stance connected Moscow person near Western allies alarmed.

And though polls amusement Radev starring Borissov 31% to 21%, neither is adjacent to a majority, leaving the victor to inevitably cobble unneurotic a analyzable coalition.

The conflict for power is fierce. Just weeks earlier the vote, authorities detained implicit 200 radical for electoral coercion.

The tactics are shocking. Some section officials tricked individuals into believing their state-funded wintertime heating and blistery lunches were idiosyncratic gifts from politicians.

Sunday is astir overmuch much than electing a government. It volition find whether the state tin yet code these heavy structural problems and rebuild nationalist spot successful the governmental system.

Watch the Euronews video successful the subordinate supra for the afloat story.