Bulgaria: Change of executive power - Rumen Radev officially PM.

Sofia, Bulgaria - May 07, 2026 Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani inaugurates the Consulate General of the Syrian Arab Republic in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Sofia, Bulgaria - May 07, 2026 Bulgaria officially has a new prime minister, and it’s a familiar face in a new role. Rumen Radev, who until recently held the position of head of state (president), entered the Council of Ministers building today to assume real executive power in the country. For international observers, the move is unprecedented in the recent history of Eastern Europe – a transition from the largely representative presidential institution directly to the “helm” of the state as prime minister. Instead of the usual political courtesies, Radev’s first day in the Council of Ministers was marked by a “full audit.” He asked his ministers to check every contract and every leva spent by previous administrations. Radev's administration promises economic pragmatism - focusing on attracting strategic investments and controlling energy prices to maintain the country's competitiveness. Fighting corruption: His main promise is to "cleanse" state institutions from the influence of oligarchic structures - a topic that has long worried Sofia's Western partners. Stability in uncertain times: As a former Air Force general, Radev is betting on the image of a "strong hand" who can guarantee Bulgaria's security in the context of conflicts near NATO's borders. Bulgaria has been through a series of political crises in recent years. Radev's landslide election victory gives him a strong mandate to end the instability. The usual political culture dictates a 100-day tolerance for a new government. Courtesy Council of ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria