Bulgarian election frontrunner says EU should look to Trump and Russia for policy direction

Former Bulgarian president Rumen Radev, whom political analysts increasingly describe as a frontrunner ahead of the country’s next parliamentary elections, has urged the European leaders to draw lessons not only from the US and China, but also from Russia when shaping EU industrial and economic policy.

He called on the EU to heed strategic documents produced by the Trump administration, which advise Europe to move towards a more sovereigntist path.

In his first major programme speech since formally entering party politics last week, Radev argued that Europe risks a lasting loss of competitiveness unless its leaders adapt rapidly to global shifts and reverse what he described as “destructive deindustrialisation”.

According to him, Europe’s difficulties are also reflected in the US National Security Strategy, which, he said, points not only to economic problems but also to “a crisis of democracy, a process of cultural depersonalisation and demographic decline” in Europe.

“The US document also contains a number of recommendations for overcoming the crisis,” Radev said, linking these to “restoring sovereignty and protecting national identity, reducing regulations, countering illegal migration, restoring media freedom, and adopting a more realistic approach towards Ukraine and Russia”.

“All this raises the question of whether European leaders are capable of quickly adapting to realities and taking measures to defend competitiveness and halt destructive deindustrialisation and whether in this process they will be guided by economic benefits rather than ideological interests”, Radev said and added: “This is what the US, China and Russia are doing, as well as other regional players with ambitions to become global powers.”

Radev is criticised by political opponents for positions viewed as unfavourable to Ukraine, including support for a peace-at-any-price and opposition to sending military aid to Kyiv. Now he framed Europe’s challenges in geopolitical and civilisational terms.

Europe in a world of wars and sanctions

Speaking at the Sofia Economic Forum, Radev also stressed the need for Europe to adapt rapidly to global shifts.

“In a world of wars and ideological confrontation, the economy is one of the first victims,” he said. “In this world, it is not economic benefits in the supply of resources and the achievement of profits that lead, but political correctness towards growing sanctions, while free trade gives way to protectionism and tariffs.”

His remarks place him among a growing group of European political figures calling for a more interest-driven and less values-centred economic policy, as the EU seeks to balance industrial competitiveness, strategic autonomy and geopolitical commitments.

Radev’s first political remarks after leaving the presidency have drawn stark comparisons in tone and substance with positions expressed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, particularly on issues related to Ukraine, sovereignty and the balance between economic interests and EU-level political priorities.

Rule of law and oligarchy

Turning to domestic issues, Radev argued that Bulgaria still has serious work ahead to “truly integrate” into the EU. “First and foremost, this means removing the oligarchy from power and stopping the financial flows from public resources that continue to be channelled towards it,” he said.

Radev called for the establishment of the rule of law, a genuine separation of powers and a functioning justice system, alongside restoring transparency, accountability and responsibility in public governance.

The ex-president pledged to “restore democratic market mechanisms distorted beyond recognition by the oligarchy” and to “free business from racketeering”, in order to create an economic environment capable of unlocking the potential of Bulgarian companies.

“All this can and will happen, because there is enormous public will for real change, and this energy must be transformed into the recovery of statehood and the transformation of Bulgaria into a democratic and prosperous European state,” he said.

Eurozone “a tool, not a strategic goal”

Radev struck a cautious tone on eurozone membership, arguing it should not be treated as an end in itself. “The eurozone is not and cannot be a strategic goal. It is one of the instruments for achieving the larger objective – Bulgarians reaching, as quickly as possible, the standard and quality of life of the average European through accelerated economic growth,” he said.

He warned that the “golden rain” of investments often promised in public debate “will clearly not happen just like that”, and that attracting investment bringing high added value and changing the structure of the economy would require significant effort.

He argued that society and the state should focus on two key directions: “overcoming the negative social and economic consequences of a hasty entry into the eurozone, without the necessary preparation of the state and citizens, on the one hand, and making use of the opportunities arising from membership, on the other”.

Caption: Former Bulgarian president Rumen Radev spoke at the Sofia Economic Forum, 28.01.2026, Rumen Radev/Facebook