Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party looks set to win Sunday's Bulgarian Parliamentary election - the eighth general election in five years.
Exit polls put his Progressive Bulgaria on 37%, more than double the score of the closest runner-up, former prime minister Boiko Borisov's GERB at 16%.
Three or four other parties look set to cross the 4% threshold and enter Parliament.
The election was called after the previous government tried to push through a controversial budget last December, prompting mass demonstrations which Radev, as president, supported.
People rejected the self-satisfaction and arrogance of old parties and did not fall prey to lies and manipulation. I thank them for their trust, Radev said, in his victory speech.
He promised to build a strong Bulgaria in a strong Europe and emphasized the need for critical thinking and pragmatic actions to enhance Europe's security architecture and economic competitiveness.
Radev, a former Mig-29 fighter pilot and commander-in-chief of the Bulgarian Air Force, has faced criticism for his pro-Russian stance and opposition to military support for Ukraine. He framed his campaign around domestic policies, advocating for corruption combat and political stability.
Stepping down after nine years as president, Radev's political ambitions have taken shape as he aims to form a coalition government amid a fragmented political landscape.
Despite winning a significant share of the vote, his party may not have enough to govern alone, prompting Radev to seek potential coalition partners for a stable administration.
