Bulgarian President Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party won an absolute majority in the parliamentary election on April 19, sparking concerns about his stance on corruption and Ukraine. Radev has avoided giving clear answers on his plans, leaving many questions unanswered.
Radev was born in Haskovo in 1963 and began training to be a pilot in 1987. He completed his training as an officer in the US in 1992 and became Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force in 2005.
As president, Radev has been criticized for his ambiguous stance on Ukraine, with some questioning whether he will maintain Bulgaria's pro-European stance or follow a more pro-Russian path. His party's alliance with three small parties has raised concerns about corruption and the potential for Russian meddling.
Radev has expressed support for anti-corruption protests in the past, but his willingness to crack down on corruption remains uncertain. He may seek the support of the PP-DB alliance to replace officials linked to former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Peevski.