Rumen Radev becomes Bulgaria’s new PM

KATHMANDU: Bulgarian lawmakers on Friday approved former president Rumen Radev as the country’s new Prime Minister, along with his proposed cabinet, following a majority vote in parliament.

The 240-member National Assembly backed Radev’s nomination with 124 votes in favor. Members of the second-largest parliamentary group, the GERB–UDF coalition, abstained from the voting process, while several opposition parties voted against the formation of the new government.

Parliament also approved the structure of the new Council of Ministers and confirmed the list of cabinet members.

Under Bulgaria’s constitutional framework, a government is formed once it secures a majority of the votes from members present in parliament.

Radev, born in 1963, previously served as Bulgaria’s president and was first elected to the post in 2016, later winning re-election in 2021.

Before his political career, he served as a fighter pilot and held a senior command position in the Bulgarian Air Force.

Presenting his cabinet program to parliament, the newly appointed Prime Minister said his government’s priorities will include tackling rising inflation, high living costs, economic pressure, and regional security challenges.

He also pledged to focus on modernization, economic growth, public safety, and keeping Bulgaria away from military conflicts.

His administration aims to improve the business environment, attract foreign investment, expand high-tech sectors including artificial intelligence, and strengthen efforts to combat crime.

The government change comes after the collapse of the previous administration led by Rosen Zhelyazkov in December 2025 amid public dissatisfaction over economic policies.

The April parliamentary elections marked the eighth general election in Bulgaria in the past five years, reflecting ongoing political instability in the country.