Politics Complicated government formation expected in Bulgaria
Bulgaria's seventh parliamentary election in three and a half years is set to produce a fragmented parliament and a difficult government formation. Two rival pro-Western camps took the top two places in the early election on Sunday in the south-eastern EU country.
28.10.2024, 14:59
SDA
The center-right Gerb-SDS alliance of former three-time head of government Boiko Borissov received 26.4 percent of the vote, followed by its political rival, the liberal-conservative PP-DB alliance with 14.2 percent, according to the Central Election Commission after 99.7 percent of the ballots were counted the day after the election. Up to nine political forces could overcome the four percent hurdle to enter parliament.
Difficult government formation feared
This unprecedented fragmentation of the People's Assembly is likely to make forming a government more difficult. "There will be no way out of the political crisis," political scientist Slavi Vasilev told state radio in Sofia. Election winner Borissov is not in a position to form a stable government.
The pro-Western PP-DB camp rejects Borissov as the future head of government, accusing him of corrupt governance in his three governments up to 2021. Nevertheless, the two pro-Western camps governed together for less than a year - albeit without a coalition agreement. Whether such a coalition could now be repeated was still open the day after the election. In addition, a third government partner would be necessary for a majority of 121 of the 240 members of parliament to be achieved.
Borissov wants to govern
On election night, Borissov expressed his determination to form a government. "I will govern with anyone who supports our program," he said. He ruled out the pro-Russian, nationalist and populist Wasrashdane (Rebirth) party as a government partner. According to preliminary official figures, it came third with 13.4 percent.
Protest vote for small parties
According to the preliminary results, a populist newcomer came in eighth place with 4.6 percent. With 4.01 percent, another populist party without a pro-Western profile, Welitschie, is on the brink. Both parties are symptomatic of a protest vote against the other parties, commented sociologist Ewelina Slawkowa on TV channel Nova.
