Bulgarian Voters Set To Elect New Parliament In Snap Vote

SOFIA, April 19 (Bernama-dpa) — Bulgaria is electing a new parliament on Sunday in a snap vote, with polls suggesting the new Progressives Bulgaria (PB) coalition led by former president Rumen Radev is in the lead.

Radev is viewed as Russia-friendly, and his coalition is polling at up to 34 per cent of the vote, but well short of a majority. That likely means, once again, coalition talks and potential gridlock.

He stepped down as president in January to take part in the snap election. During the campaign, he sought to position himself as a fighter against corruption. 

In a television interview before the end of the campaign, Radev said that if he were to head the government of Bulgaria, which is an European Union and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) member, he would not contribute financially to military aid for Ukraine, but would not block decisions on it.

The eighth parliamentary election in just five years follows  mass protests over corruption and the December resignation of a pro-Western coalition government led by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov in December.

The conservative alliance GERB-SDS, which had governed until then, is now expected to become the second-largest political force with around 20 per cent, according to forecasts.

At least five parties are expected to enter the new parliament in Sofia following the election, which uses proportional representation.

Amid suspicion of election manipulation, the interim government activated systems provided by the European Union to combat disinformation and foreign interference.

-- BERNAMA-dpa