According to exit polls on the parliamentary elections the centre-right party of former Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov won the most votes. According to two recent surveys in anticipation of official results, the GERB party or the Citizens for Bulgaria’s European Development party got 30%-33% of the vote. The socialist party BSP led by Sergei Stanishev got 25%-27%. Two other parties projected to win seats in parliament include MRF (Movement for Rights and Freedoms), the ethnic Turkish minority and Ataka.
If there is no outright winner in the Sunday parliamentary polls, there are fears that this Balkan nation, one of the European Union’s poorest countries, would have a “hung parliament” and proceed to further political instability. The other parties have already declared that they would staunchly oppose another GERB-led government.
Two exit polls
According to the Alpha Research exit poll, the GERB party won 30.1% while the Socialist party garnered 26.1% of votes. In the meantime, the Sova Harris exit poll revealed that the GERB party won 31.2% of the voteS while Socialists get 25.7% of the votes. If the exit polls hold true GERB will not have the majority of the 240 seats of the Bulgarian Parliament.
A possible stalemate
If these exit polls forecasts are confirmed on Monday, former PM Borisov will not have enough for a majority in Parliament. The exit polls reveal that the winner would not get a clear majority to form a new government. As the leader of GERB, Borisov would then need to form a coalition, which according to most analysts would prove to be very difficult. Observers are saying that if this will indeed be the result of the election then Bulgaria will be in a political stalemate and a new election would then be required for the country to have a proper government. The official election results will be available on Monday.
Borisov’s resignation
Borisov came into power in 2009. He resigned three months ago in February brought about by pressure from anti-government protests because of the failure of the then ruling party to provide better living conditions, among others. Protests against the wide-spread corruption of the Bulgarian government resorted to often violent rallies. Protesters argue that politicians only spend time making themselves rich and bickering amongst themselves and not solving the nation’s many problems. Upon the resignation of Borisov a caretaker government was installed.
Bulgaria remains the poorest of the member countries of the European Union with 25% of the citizens living below the poverty line. The current unemployment rate is estimated to be around 20%.
Marred campaign
The campaign for this election has been marred by allegations of vote-rigging and illegal wire-tapping. During the campaign period, authorities raided a printing house and confiscated 350,000 illegal ballots. The printing house is reportedly owned by an ally of Borisov. There have also been claims of fraud and voter apathy. When the polls closed a crowd gathered outside the Palace of Culture in the capital in protest of any attempts by the GERB part to install a new government.
Photo Credit: Boiko Borisov
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