Ex-president Rumen Radev shares political views in Berliner Zeitung interview

The resigned former Bulgarian president Rumen Radev has published on Facebook his interview with the German edition Berliner Zeitung, in which he outlines his political positions.

Radev says that the euro should have been introduced after a referendum and criticizes the last regular government for failing to address rising prices and “the implementation of financial buffers to protect the most vulnerable groups in society.”

He explains that he is entering politics as “a response to the call of Bulgarian citizens and their expectations for transforming Bulgaria into a democratic, modern, and free European state.”

Radev reiterates that ending the war in Ukraine requires more diplomacy and negotiations with Russia. He believes it is premature to talk about integrating Ukraine into the EU. The former president criticizes Sofia’s support for President Donald Trump’s Peace Board, but wants “strategic relations with the U.S. to continue strengthening, as they continue to guarantee Europe’s security.”

The interview emphasizes the importance of economic relations between Bulgaria and Germany, noting that their trade turnover in 2025 exceeded €12 billion.

Edited by Ivo Ivanov