Bulgaria votes as pro-Russian former president leads in the polls

Bulgarians are voting in the eighth parliamentary election in five years, with the clear frontrunner, the pro-Russian former president Rumen Radev, promising to stamp out corruption and end a succession of weak, short-lived governments.

Radev, a Eurosceptic former fighter pilot who has opposed military support for Ukraine, stepped down from the presidency in January to run in the election, which comes after mass demonstrations forced out the previous government in December.

Slick social media campaigns and a promise of stability have boosted Radev’s support in the Balkan country of about 6.5 million people, where voters are weary of repeated elections and a small group of veteran politicians whom many see as corrupt.

“We need, finally, a path to a democratic, modern European Bulgaria,” Radev said after casting his ballot in Sofia. “We need our very robust programme in the parliament to support the Bulgarian citizens to get out as soon as possible of this very difficult situation.”

On relations with Moscow, he said: “I hope that we will develop practical relations with Russia based on mutual respect and equal treatment.”

Rumen Radev speaking to the media after voting in Sofia on Sunday. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Bulgaria has developed rapidly since the fall of communism in 1989, and joined the EU in 2007. Life expectancy has risen sharply, unemployment is among the lowest in the EU, and the economy is seen as having greater safeguards since joining the eurozone in January.

But Bulgaria lags behind other EU countries in many metrics and there have been concerns about vote-buying in past elections.

The cost of living has become a key issue since Bulgaria, also a member of Nato, adopted the euro. The previous government fell amid protests against a new budget proposing tax rises and higher social security contributions.

That and the recent political crisis appear to be as important to voters as Radev’s calls to improve relations with Moscow or resume Russian oil and gas flows to Europe.