(transcript of the “Man of the Day” segment from the show “Ce-i în Gușă, și-n căpușă!” on GOLD FM)
Author: Cozmin Gușă
You may recall, dear GOLD listeners, how a few months ago, in January 2026, I told you on this very microphone that Rumen Radev, the President of Bulgaria, would resign in order to return as Prime Minister in the parliamentary elections held yesterday. And that is exactly what happened. His Socialist Party, rebranded as Progressive Bulgaria, will hold an absolute majority in the Parliament in Sofia starting this week.
Radev is a career general; he was a fighter pilot (so not just anyone), and at his peak he rose to command our neighbors’ armed forces. That was until 2017, when he won the presidential election and became head of state, serving for nine consecutive years. A great deal was said about Radev during the campaign—every kind of claim imaginable—especially the repeated narrative about his “pro-Russian” stance, but it was in vain. Bulgarians judged that Rumen Radev is the right man for them and that he is justified in opposing what they see as damaging EU strategies. As for me, I have many positive references regarding Radev. He maintains a friendly relationship with a long-time associate of mine, the businessman Avram Gal, who is also the Trump family’s business partner in Romania. And, of course, he has another notable quality: like me, he was born in Câmpia Turzii; he still lives there, unlike me, as I no longer do.
It is clear that now, with Avram Gal, Radev, and Eric Trump, this network of relationships, in the current context, will prompt increasing references in the Romanian press to a Moscow–Washington axis involving discreet yet concrete understandings in the Black Sea region. Well, now such claims can flow freely—because that is indeed the reality. And this is something already known to GOLD FM listeners—that is, to you—now further confirmed by the Bulgarian elections.
Rumen Radev declared victory over apathy. That is how he put it: “Our electoral victory is a victory over apathy.” But, dear listeners, it is clearly much more than that. Take note: Bulgaria is a country with a surface area even larger than Hungary’s, with a slightly smaller population, yet with a geopolitical potential incomparably greater than that of our western neighbors—whose elections have been so heavily publicized, of course, largely because of Viktor Orbán. Bulgaria possesses significant natural resources. It lies along numerous strategic routes. It is a Slavic nation. I could tell you many things I know about Bulgaria, as I have studied it extensively and presented my findings in my book, published 15 years ago: “Imperialism in Post-Communism. The Geopolitics of Disorder in the Former Socialist Bloc.” If you read it (I believe it can still be found online), you will see these arguments and likely agree that not only is Bulgaria’s geopolitical role pivotal in our region, but that this role will grow and multiply following Radev’s victory.
What ideas should you work with? I will tell you. Certainly, the idea that Russia will increase its influence in the Black Sea following the Bulgarian elections—clearly in military terms, but also in matters of energy control and transport, among many others. Not to mention the proxy struggle against EU dictates—with Radev in power in Bulgaria, the situation will be different, as his experience and sophistication become highly valuable assets for his allies and for Bulgaria itself, and significant obstacles for his adversaries. For this reason, I have named Rumen Radev the “Man of the Day” on GOLD FM.
