In Bulgaria, former Prime Minister Boiko Borissov’s centre-right pro-Western coalition won Sunday’s parliamentary election. In the fifth election in two years, GERB-SDS received 26.5% of the vote. This is what emerges from the preliminary results of the Central Electoral Commission published on Monday after counting all the electoral records.
The equally pro-Western Liberal-Conservative bloc PP-DB led by former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov comes in second with 24.5 percent. In terms of foreign policy, the two main camps agree to support Ukraine in the Russian war of aggression, including arms delivery.
Six parties reach parliament
A total of six parties cleared the four percent barrier to enter parliament. Among them is again the pro-Russian and nationalist Vazrashdane (Renaissance). With 14.1 percent, the party founded in 2014 became the third strongest political force for the first time. In early parliamentary elections six months ago, she came fourth with 10.1 percent.
The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) from the Turkish minority (13.7 percent) and the Socialists (8.9 percent) are also moving into parliament in Sofia. Artist Slawi Trifonov’s populist ITN, who remained outside parliament after the previous election in 2022, managed to enter parliament with 4.1 percent.
With that balance of power, forming a new government is likely to be tricky, political scientists agree. The day after the election, it was still unclear whether a grand coalition could be formed. Leading politicians from the highest-ranked parties kept a low profile. Until a regular government is in place, the interim cabinet appointed by Head of State Rumen Radew in view of new elections will continue to manage official affairs.
At the end of 2022, the Sofia parliament approved the first military aid package for Kiev. But President Radev, who is considered pro-Russian, has said Bulgaria will not supply Ukraine with weapons while the caretaker cabinet he appointed is in power. Borisov called on pro-Western parties to form a regular government after this election.
Sunday’s vote was the fifth parliamentary election in two years – turnout was just 40 percent. In 2020, months of anti-corruption protests rocked the government of then Prime Minister Borisov, who had ruled Bulgaria for nearly a decade. Every election since then has resulted in fragmented parliaments, with neither party able to form a functioning government.
Borisov’s GERB-SDS alliance was ousted from office in 2021 after allegations of corruption and protests. PP and DB were involved in a four-party government with Prime Minister Petkov until June 2022, which was overthrown by a no-confidence vote. (apa/dpa)