May 2026
Global Elections Update: The Bahamas & Bulgaria
Region: Europe
Region: Latin America
Author: Nadyme Reyes
Our team's analysis covering various elections held around the globe.
The Bahamas
The Bahamas called snap general elections on May 12 following the dissolution of parliament last April. The decision came after changes in the composition of the House of Assembly, including two vacant seats caused by the deaths of sitting members and a party switch by one opposition legislator. Prime Minister Philip Davis and the ruling Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) secured a second consecutive term, winning 52% of the vote and a strong parliamentary majority with 33 of the 41 seats. The opposition Free National Movement (FNM), led by Michael Pintard, conceded defeat after securing 36% of the vote and 8 seats in parliament.
After his victory, PM Davis pledged to expand economic opportunities, strengthen national security, and ease pressures on Bahamian families, responding to key voter concerns, including affordability, housing, healthcare, and public security. The Bahamas maintains close ties with the United States, which deployed election observers alongside CARICOM and the Organization of American States to monitor the electoral process. More recently, the United States and The Bahamas have deepened cooperation on transnational crime and anti-smuggling efforts in the Caribbean.
Bulgaria
On April 19, Bulgaria held snap parliamentary elections to elect the 240 members of the National Assembly for a four-year term. The elections followed the resignation of Prime Minister Rose Zhelyazkov in December 2025 amid widespread protests over corruption and governance. The left-wing nationalist party Progressive Bulgaria, led by former air force commander Rumen Radev, won a landslide victory with 44% of the vote, securing 131 seats and an outright majority in parliament. Radev, who served as president from 2017 until January 2026, resigned from the presidency to run for parliament on a platform focused on fighting corruption, reforming institutions, and restoring economic growth. In second place, the pro-European conservative GERB–SDS, led by Boyko Borisov, secured only 13% of the vote.
Rumen Radev was sworn in as prime minister along with his new cabinet, on May 8, marking a major political shift that is expected to end years of instability and fragmentation. However, his Eurosceptic stance and opposition to supporting Ukraine have raised concerns among EU partners about a possible realignment of Bulgaria’s foreign policy, particularly on key decisions involving Russia.