Bulgarian government anti-corruption and election integrity

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev has initiated a series of government directives aimed at ensuring electoral integrity and dismantling the country’s oligarchic model.

In mid-September 2026, Radev directed the Ministry of Interior to maintain neutrality during upcoming presidential and vice-presidential elections. He emphasized the need to combat vote-buying, controlled voting, and corporate influence through coordination with the State Agency for National Security and the Prosecutor’s Office. Radev stated that law enforcement must uncover violations without “unnecessary showmanship or premature judgment.”

Following these election-focused directives, Radev expanded on his strategic program to combat corruption and oligarchy to foster economic growth. He reported that the government has completed an initial phase of removing oligarchic influence from the executive branch. Future stages involve conducting audits and identifying the assets of influential individuals, with relevant documentation already transferred to the prosecutor’s office.

On September 19, 2026, Radev detailed a dual-pillar strategy at an American Chamber of Commerce event. While noting the removal of oligarchy from direct political power, he stated the fight to prevent their influence over public resources continues through auditing compromised public procurement and collaborating with international agencies to track illegal assets abroad.

Economically, Radev is transitioning Bulgaria from a model of low wages and high consumption toward a high-productivity economy. Priorities include infrastructure via public-private partnerships, energy security involving American technologies like Westinghouse reactors and LNG, and high-tech sectors such as artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing. Foreign Minister Vesela Petrova is also working to deepen strategic partnerships with the United States regarding security and economic cooperation.