Rumen Radev looks set to win Bulgarian Parliamentary election

Rumen Radev looks set to win Bulgarian Parliamentary election2 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleNick ThorpeCentral Europe correspondentReutersRumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party looks set to win Sunday's Bulgarian Parliamentary election - the eighth general election in five years. Exit polls put his Progressive Bulgaria on 37%, more than double the score of the closest runner-up, former prime minister Boiko Borisov's GERB on 16%. Three or four other parties look set to cross the 4% threshold and enter Parliament.The election was called after the previous government tried to push through a controversial budget last December, prompting mass demonstrations which Radev, as president, supported."People rejected the self-satisfaction and arrogance of old parties and did not fall prey to lies and manipulation. I thank them for their trust," Radev said, in his victory speech. He promised to build "a strong Bulgaria in a strong Europe"."What Europe needs right now is critical thinking, pragmatic actions and good results, especially to build a new security architecture and … recover its industrial power and competitiveness. That will be the main contribution of Bulgaria to its European mission," he said.Radev, 62, is seen as a pragmatic, somewhat pro-Russian leader, who has criticised EU sanctions, and called for constructive dialogue with the Kremlin. He opposes Bulgarian military support for Ukraine.He fought this election largely on domestic policies, promising to combat corruption, and restore stable government after years of weak and easily-toppled coalitions.He stepped down after nine years as president in January to form his new movement. A former Mig-29 fighter pilot and commander-in-chief of the Bulgarian Air Force, his victory is impressive by Bulgarian standards, but does not give Progressive Bulgaria a strong enough mandate to govern alone. In his first speech on Sunday evening, Radev said he is looking...