Sofia, Bulgaria –
An exit poll in Bulgaria on Sunday showed former prime minister Boyko Borissov’s centre-right GERB party, a party seen as presiding over years of corruption, is likely to win the election. parliamentary elections in Bulgaria.
A poll conducted by Gallup International showed the GERB party earning 24.6% of support, seemingly outpacing former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov’s pro-Western reformist We Continue the Change party, which is expected to win accounted for 18.9%. The odds, however, will not be enough for Borissov’s party to form a one-party government, and the chances of a GERB-led coalition are slim.
The poll also predicts that eight parties could cross the 4% threshold to join a parliament divided with populist and pro-Russian groups suggesting increased interest.
The European Union country’s fourth election in 18 months was marked by a fierce battle nearby, political instability and economic hardship in the bloc’s poorest member. Low voter turnout reflects voter apathy.
Petkov received defeat late on Sunday.
“We lost the election, albeit by a small margin, and now the GERB has the responsibility to form a coalition and run the country,” he said.
It may take a few days before the final official results are announced. If they confirm the poll, Borisov will be tasked with forming his fourth cabinet. However, it will be a difficult task for him to forge a stable governing coalition, as most political groups have previously refused any cooperation with his GERB party, which has since presiding over many years corruption has hindered development.
The early elections come after a fragile coalition led by Petkov lost a vote of no confidence in June. He later claimed that Moscow used “mixed war” tactics to bring down his government after it refused to pay its gas bill in rubles and ordered the expulsion of diplomats. Russia from Bulgaria.
The European Council’s deputy chief of staff for foreign relations, Vessela Cherneva, said the predicted results could produce two types of coalitions: an anti-corruption coalition, in which the GERB under Borissov would have no place. , or a geopolitical alliance of centrist parties, which could only happen if Borissov stepped down as leader of his party.
“The scenario under which there is no coalition would undermine parliamentary democracy in Bulgaria and would tilt the balance further in favor of pro-Russian President (Rumen) Radev,” Cherneva said.
After voting on Sunday, Borissov told reporters that Bulgaria needed to take a clear stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine.
With this aggression, with this war with a clear aggressor in the face of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin – (I am not) against the Russian people – with this farce with the referendums Italy, Bulgaria must be very clear, categorical and precise about its place in the European Union and NATO,” he said.
He said the inclusion of Bulgaria in the 19-nation eurozone must be the most important task of the next government.
Petkov has promised to continue efforts to eradicate corruption, but an energy crisis in Europe caused by Russia’s Ukraine war is the dominant economic topic for voters.
Many Bulgarians share pro-Russian sentiments, which provide fertile ground for Kremlin-positive propaganda in the Balkan country.
The pro-Russia party Vazrazhdane, based on those sentiments, won 10.2% of the vote, up from 4.9% in the previous election, the poll predicted.
Unlike the EU stance, which fully condemns Russia’s war in Ukraine and imposes sanctions on Russia for its actions, Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov has called for “total neutrality.” against Bulgaria during the war.
