Bulgaria votes as pro-Russian former president leads the polls

Bulgarians went to the polls on Sunday in the eighth parliamentary election in five years, with the clear frontrunner, pro-Russian former President Rumen Radev, promising to stamp out corruption and end a spiral of weak, short-lived governments.



Radev, a eurosceptic former fighter pilot who opposes military support for Ukraine's war effort against Moscow, stepped down from the presidency in January to run in the election, which comes after mass protests forced out the previous government in December.



A slick social media campaign, deep coffers and a pledge of stability have boosted Radev's support in the Balkan country of about 6.5 million, where voters are weary of repeated snap polls and a small group of veteran politicians widely seen as corrupt.



"We need, finally, a path to democratic, modern European Bulgaria," Radev said after casting his ballot in Sofia. "We need our very robust program 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."