Kremlin ‘impressed’ with Bulgarian election winner Radev’s call for pragmatic dialogue with Moscow – Europe live | Bulgaria
Kremlin ‘impressed’ by Bulgarian election winner Radev’s call for pragmatic dialogue with Moscow
One of the first reactions to the vote in Bulgaria last night was: The Kremlin said it was impressed by Radev’s words about pragmatic dialogue with Moscow, Reuters reported.
Kremlin spokesman in all quotes cited by AFP Dmitry Peskov in question:
“Of course, we are attracted by the words of Mr. Radev and some other European leaders that they are ready to solve problems through dialogue.”
During the campaign, Radev spoke of the need for a closer relationship with Russia, raising concerns about his future government’s approach to Moscow, including on energy imports.
important events
Government crises are approaching in Romania and Slovenia
Meanwhile, it looks like We are likely to see government crises in Romania and Slovenia in the coming days and weeks…
Reuters reported that Social Democrats in Romania are expected to withdraw their support for liberal prime minister Ilie BolojanThis is likely to herald months of political instability that will put pressure on debts, credit ratings and the receipt of EU funds.
Bolojan’s coalition government of four pro-European parties met 10 months ago They have sought to keep the rise of the far-right out of power following a polarizing presidential election, but have repeatedly clashed over reform measures.
Reuters noted Leftists will withdraw six ministers from cabinet this week as Bolojan says he will not resignIt deprives the coalition of its parliamentary majority.
The early election will most likely lead to the far-right Alliance to Unite Romanians winning the vote outright.
Meanwhile in Slovenia, the country’s outgoing prime minister, Robert Golob, His party won a razor-thin majority in last month’s parliamentary elections. He said that he had failed to form a government and that he would work in opposition.
he said could not find a partner among centre-right parties joining a potential government coalition.
Golob’s failure to form a new government opens the door to second place Janez Janša, AFP noted that Trump, a close ally of Trump, will return to his post as the country’s prime minister.
Radev’s victory raises thorny questions for young voters amid concerns over EU policy
But as Eden Maclachlan pointed out in correspondence he sent to us in Sofia over the weekend, young voters are not very convinced by Radev’s platform. – which worries he could prove to be another tough partner on the block. Viktor Orbán.
Eden wrote before the vote on Sunday:
Radev, Hungary’s recently defeated right-wing populist, is compared by some to Viktor Orbán [was] He is ahead in the polls, boosted by the support of older rural voters who hope he can break up what he calls an “oligarchy” of corrupt senior politicians.
For voters like 22-year-old Aleksandar Tanev, Radev is not a reliable option. The law student believes that Radev, who resigned from the presidency to participate in these elections, “was part of the same pattern” of politicians and that as president he “had the opportunity to use caretaker governments to fight this mafia” but did not do so.
Dimitar Keranov, A Bulgarian researcher from the German Marshall Fund’s European resilience program in Berlin said: The electorate was generally divided by generation.
“I don’t think so [Radev] because it would be a simple vote for young Bulgarians I think he represents the status quo that young Bulgarians would like to see broken“He represents the same old guard or the usual political elite.”
A victory for Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria (PB), a left-leaning but Moscow-friendly coalition. While the EU breathes a sigh of relief over Orbán’s death, this could be a new headache for Brussels and its allies.
On Wednesday, amid concerns about the rising cost of living, Radev took aim at the previous government’s decision to introduce the euro “without asking” voters. “And now, as you pay your bills, always remember which politicians promised you a place in the ‘rich club’,” he said.
“Europe has become a victim of its own ambition to be a moral leader,” says Bulgarian election winner Radev
The latest results after more than 91% of the votes were counted confirm that Radev will have an absolute majority in the new parliament It appears on track to win around 130 seats in the 240-seat parliament.
The landslide victory was the first parliamentary majority for a single entity in Bulgaria since 1997, when a centre-right, pro-European group won, AFP said.
But as a sign of the tensions to come, “A strong Bulgaria and a strong Europe need critical thinking and pragmatism,” Radev said.
“Europe has fallen victim to the ambition to be the moral leader in a world of new rules,” he told reporters.
I guess we’ll have to wait and see what this means in practice.
Morning opening: The eighth time’s the charm
Yakup Krupa
Bulgaria’s former president Rumen Radev, who has criticized the EU and called for renewed ties with Russia, praised the “victory of hope” on Sunday after his formation came out on top in its eighth parliamentary election in five years.
Estimates from pollsters Progressive Bulgaria (PB) is grouped with 44%, which will give it an absolute majority of at least 129 seats In the 240-seat parliament
Partial results this morning, after more than 80% of the votes have been counted, show the polls are broadly accurate and raise hopes for a stable government in Bulgaria.
However The international enthusiasm we saw in Hungary a week ago was minimal. No European leaders have yet taken to social media to congratulate the winner.
RadevPresident of Bulgaria from 2017 to 2026, is a Eurosceptic, Those who regularly oppose further military support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s continued aggression This has led to some concerns that he could replace Hungary’s Viktor Orbán as a formidable partner in the European Council.
However the focus will likely be on domestic reforms and the fight against corruption, Because foreign policy needs to be defined correctly. On Sunday, he announced that Bulgaria “will strive to advance on the European path” after joining the eurozone earlier this year.
I will tell you more about this topic during the day.
Separately, Frenchman Emmanuel Macron is expected to be in Poland Where will he meet the Prime Minister? Donald Tusk, and former Nobel Prize-winning leader of the Solidarity movement, Lech Walesa.
Meanwhile, Brazilian Lula meets with chancellor Friedrich Merz in Germany. for trade-related negotiations, among other things.
Hungarian leader Orbán also suggested that Ukraine could restart oil shipments via the Druzhba pipeline as early as today.
The issue has been at the center of difficult Hungarian-Ukrainian relations in recent months, with suggestions that, if confirmed, the EU would be ready to lift the Hungarian bloc over its 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine, even before that. Peter Magyar It enters at the beginning of May.
I’ll keep an eye on all of this and keep you updated.
His Monday, April 20, 2026, his Yakup Krupa here and this Europe Live.
Good morning.
