Radev, a former air force commander who served two presidential terms, the most recent of which he ended early in January, has cast himself as an opponent of the country’s entrenched mafia, which is intimately linked to top politicians.
He has, however, faced criticism from pro-Western rivals over positions they say were sympathetic to Moscow, particularly on military aid to Ukraine.
Progressive Bulgaria brings together three center-left formations — the Political Movement Social Democrats, the Social Democratic Party and the Our People Movement. The bloc is closely associated with Radev but is formally co-led by his allies: Galab Donev, a former caretaker prime minister, and Dimitar Stoyanov, an ex-defense minister.
His move comes after years of tumultuous political instability in the country of 6.4 million people. Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov resigned in December 2025 following mass protests and corruption allegations. His Cabinet, which took office in January 2025, survived six no-confidence votes before collapsing.
The April ballot will be Bulgaria’s eighth election in four years, with no prime minister since 2021 completing a full term.