Fifth parliamentary elections in two years in Bulgaria – no clear favourite

In Bulgaria, the fifth parliamentary elections in two years have started. On Sunday, around six million voters in the southeastern EU country were called upon to appoint 240 parliamentarians. There is no clear favourite. People need to vote again as all attempts to form a new government failed after an early general election in October 2022.

Opinion pollsters assume a neck-and-neck race between the two pro-Western camps. The liberal-conservative bloc PP-DB led by ex-Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and the centre-right alliance GERB-SDS led by Prime Minister Boiko Borissov, who will rule three times until 2021, will be present. According to surveys, each camp is likely to get about 26 percent of the vote.

Allegations of corruption in the election campaign

The ideal government can only exist with the support of 130 to 140 parliamentarians, which can only be achieved with the top two parties, Borisov said in an interview with the TV channel bTV on Friday. However, Petkov’s PP-DB bloc ruled out a coalition with the GERB if Borissov remained party leader. He is accused of corrupt administration.

The election campaign was shaped by concerns about rising inflation and mutual allegations of corruption by the parties. Bulgaria’s support for Ukraine in the Russian offensive war also caused controversy. At the end of 2022, the parliament of the NATO state approved the first military aid package for Kiev. But head of state Rumen Radev declared that Bulgaria would not supply arms to Ukraine as long as the interim cabinet he had appointed was in power.

Participation of voters who are tired of voting is likely to be low. Polling places close at 8pm local time (7pm CEST). No reliable figures are expected at night. The official final result must be known within four days. (sda/dpa)