For El País on Bulgaria’s elections, Dr Rumena Filipova noted that as the emotional charge and sharp opposition between “status quo” and “change” forces has faded since 2021, voters may be reverting to a more familiar preference for strongman-style leadership.
After several inconclusive election cycles, the earlier momentum for reform, fuelled by demands for transparency and anti-corruption, has weakened. While these demands have not disappeared, they no longer structure political competition as clearly as before.
Key dynamics shaping the vote:
- The reform wave has lost intensity, following repeated elections without a decisive outcome
- Demands for transparency persist, but are less politically mobilising than in 2021–2024
- Voters may be returning to established patterns, including support for dominant political figures
- There is still openness to new political actors, despite this shift
At the same time, the stakes remain high beyond domestic politics: Bulgaria’s geopolitical orientation remains uncertain and the next government may either maintain alignment with the EU and NATO or deepen ties with Russia and China. Even with lower emotional intensity than in previous elections, the underlying tension between reform, governance, and geopolitical orientation continues to shape the outcome.