In the early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria, the conservative opposition party GERB (“Citizens for Bulgaria's European Development”) has become the strongest party according to initial forecasts.
GERB, which was voted out of office in April 2021 after allegations of corruption by the then opposition, is expected to get 24.6 percent of the votes, according to voter surveys by the opinion research institute Gallup International Balkan after the vote was cast.
In second place with 18.9 percent was the liberal PP (“We continue the change”) of former Prime Minister Kyrill Petkov, who won the last election in November 2022.
The three parties of the last governing coalition of PP, Socialists and the conservative-liberal-green alliance DB would come together according to the information at a good 37.2 percent.
Up to eight parties could move into parliament.
Among them is the pro-Russian and nationalist party Wasraschdane (“Rebirth”) with around 10 percent of voters, which, according to the surveys, was able to roughly double its result.
Shortly before the polling stations closed, voter turnout was apparently just over 35 percent.
In view of the predicted balance of power, the formation of a government became complicated.
Hardly anyone has wanted to form a coalition with Borisov, since his years in government were characterized by massive subsidy fraud and systematic high-level corruption.
Until the new government is in place, official business is to be managed by a transitional cabinet appointed by President Rumen Radev.
Critics say that the presidency is increasingly becoming a center of power in Bulgaria.