A pro-Russian former president has been selected as Bulgaria’s new prime minister following his party’s victory in parliamentary elections. The Eastern European nation joined the EU in 2007.
Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria party won a majority in April.
He delivered a speech after winning the parliament’s endorsement as prime minister on Friday.
He said, “We will work to preserve peace and prevent Bulgaria’s involvement in the military conflicts around us.”
Radev had campaigned against military support for Ukraine, which is being invaded by Russia, and for better relations with Moscow.
The AP news agency quoted an expert as saying Bulgaria under Radev may scale back support for Ukraine in areas such as the provision of artillery shells.