Conservatives lead in Bulgaria's legislative election exit polls
Preliminary exit polls from Bulgaria's early parliamentary election suggest another win for former prime minister Boyko Borisov's conservative GERB party.
According to the Gallup International Balkan exit poll, the pro-Europe GERB party holds 25.1% of the vote, followed by We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) with 15.4% and the nationalist Vazrazhdane party at 13.8%.
The BSP - United Left trails with 8.1%, and DPS - New Beginning at 7.7%.
Voter turnout is estimated at 33.5%, Gallup reported.
A separate exit poll by Alfa Research places GERB with a wider lead at 26.4%, followed by PP-DB at 14.9% and Vazrazhdane at 12.9%, with an estimated turnout of 38%.
The final results will determine if GERB gains enough support to end Bulgaria’s political deadlock.
The vote on Sunday is the seventh general election in just over three years, as Bulgaria faces growing political instability that could encourage the rise of pro-Russian and far-right sentiment.
Only two of the six general elections since 2021 have produced an elected government. However, they both collapsed after trying to introduce reforms and cut remnants of the country’s reliance on Russia.
The latest vote held in June produced no clear winner and the seven factions elected in the fragmented legislature were unable to put together a viable coalition.
Observers suggest the coming vote will produce more of the same, with chances of an immediate end to the political stalemate low.
Pollsters predicted voter fatigue and disillusionment in the political system would result in a low turnout and fragmented parliament where populist and pro-Russian groups could increase their representation.
At the same time, a high number of controlled votes was expected - not only bought votes but also those due to pressure from local authorities, including corporate ones, according to prominent analyst Stoyana Georgieva.
She predicted a possibility that the main pro-Russia party in Bulgaria, Vazrazhdane, would emerge as a second political force.
The far-right, ultra-nationalist and populist party insists Bulgaria lift sanctions against Russia, stop helping Ukraine, and hold a referendum on its membership in NATO.
The Balkan country of 6.7 million has been gripped by political instability since 2020 when nationwide protests erupted against corrupt politicians that had allowed oligarchs to take control of state institutions.
Bulgaria is one of the poorest and most corrupt European Union Member States and attempts to fight graft are an uphill battle against an unreformed judiciary widely accused of serving the interests of politicians.