Elections in Bulgaria: will Radev break the cycle of political crisis?
The Bulgarian Central Election Commission and Euronews are reporting on the progress of the vote and the current standings.
How the voting is taking place
The electoral process is organised according to strict regulations:
-
Polling stations are open from 07:00 to 20:00. If there are queues at the entrance, polling stations may remain open until 21:00.
-
Turnout forecasts: it is expected that over 50% of citizens will take part in the elections, which is significantly higher than in previous years.
-
Security: the authorities are conducting raids to prevent vote-buying, in an attempt to restore confidence in the elections.
Political landscape
Although Radev’s party leads in the polls (around 33%), this does not guarantee the swift formation of a government:
-
frontrunner: Radev promises to ‘break the oligarchy’, yet his Eurosceptic and pro-Russian views (notably his refusal to provide military aid to Ukraine) are causing concern in Brussels.
-
Main opponents: Boyko Borisov’s GERB party is in second place (18–20%), followed by the pro-European PP-DB bloc (12–14%).
-
Risk of deadlock: due to sharp conflicts between leaders, forming a coalition may once again prove an insurmountable task, threatening another snap election as early as this autumn.
The first exit poll results will be available immediately after polling stations close at 20:00.
Follow us on Telegram
