Bulgarian President Rumen Radev faces criticism over unmet reform promises

Journalist Lyudmil Iliev argues that Bulgarian society expected President Rumen Radev to deliver a radical break with the existing political model, but the promises were overly ambitious and lacked a clear implementation plan. Iliev says the anticipated dismantling of the system built around the GERB and DPS parties has not materialised, and the president has not assembled a distinct team to separate himself from those parties.

Iliev also criticises recent high‑level appointments as continuations of the status quo and highlights tensions surrounding the controversial flights of MP Delian Peevski, describing them as a public humiliation for the president. He draws parallels with past political disputes, noting that both sides present documents of dubious legitimacy, leaving the public to judge whose version is more credible. The overall assessment is that Radev’s tenure so far reflects a continuation rather than a transformation of Bulgaria’s political landscape.