Bulgarians are voting in a snap election many hope will break a long-running political deadlock. The vote follows the resignation of a conservative-led government last December after nationwide anti-corruption protests.
The crisis traces back to 2021, when the conservative government of Boyko Borissov was toppled amid similar rallies. Bulgaria, the EU’s poorest member, has since struggled with political instability.
A newly formed center-left coalition built around former President Rumen Radev, called Progressive Bulgaria, is widely tipped to win, with polls putting it near 35%. Radev, an ex-air force general who stepped down from the presidency in January to run, campaigns against what he calls an “oligarchic governance model.” He has pushed for renewed ties with Russia and criticized shipments of military aid to Ukraine, though he has formally condemned Russia’s invasion and says he would not veto EU assistance to Kyiv. Radev also opposes parts of the EU’s green-energy agenda, calling it naive “in a world without rules.”
Polling suggests Borissov’s pro-European GERB party, which led the most recent government, will finish second with roughly 20%, ahead of the liberal PP-DB alliance. Borissov, a three-time prime minister, points to GERB’s record, including Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone this year, as proof of achievement.
Polling stations opened at 07:00 local time and will close at 20:00, with authorities expecting significantly higher turnout than the roughly 39% participation seen in the 2024 election. Preliminary results are expected on Monday.
Bulgaria is a member of the European Union and NATO and recently joined the Schengen area and the eurozone.
Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah