Tired of gridlock, Bulgarians vote in 4th election in less than two years | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Food
    • Habitat
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Saturday
December 02, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Food
    • Habitat
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 02, 2023
Tired of gridlock, Bulgarians vote in 4th election in less than two years

Europe

Reuters
02 October, 2022, 12:40 pm
Last modified: 02 October, 2022, 12:52 pm

Related News

  • 4 parties deny fielding candidates after EC data shows their contestants
  • One-sided election train bound to crash: Rizvi
  • Online nomination submission fails to gain traction
  • DRU election: Shuvo president, Mohiuddin general secretary
  • Deadline for JS polls nomination ends today, no possibility of extension: Jahangir Alam 

Tired of gridlock, Bulgarians vote in 4th election in less than two years

Reuters
02 October, 2022, 12:40 pm
Last modified: 02 October, 2022, 12:52 pm
Leader of GERB party Boyko Borissov speaks at an election rally, ahead of October 2 snap elections, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, September 30, 2022. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov
Leader of GERB party Boyko Borissov speaks at an election rally, ahead of October 2 snap elections, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, September 30, 2022. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov

Bulgarians vote in their fourth national election in less than two years on Sunday, with little hope for a stable government emerging because of deep division within the political elite over how to tackle entrenched corruption.

Prolonged political turmoil threatens to undermine the country's ambitions to join the euro zone in 2024 amid double-digit inflation and steep energy prices, and could lead to a softening of Sofia's stance on the Russian war in Ukraine.

Voting starts at 7 am (0400 GMT) and ends at 8 p.m. (1700 GMT). Exit polls will be released after the ballots close, with first partial official results expected in the early hours of Monday.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Opinion polls suggest that up to eight political parties may enter the next parliament, with the centre-right GERB party of former long-serving premier Boyko Borissov, 63, leading with about 25%-26% of the vote.

Just as last year, Borissov, who has pledged to bring stability and be "stronger than the chaos", is widely expected to struggle to find coalition partners among his major rivals who accuse him of allowing graft to fester during his decade-long rule that ended in 2021.

The We Continue the Change (PP) party of reformist premier Kiril Petkov, whose coalition cabinet collapsed in June, is running second on 16-17% in opinion polls.

Failure to forge a functioning cabinet would leave the rule of the European Union and NATO-member state to a caretaker administration appointed by Russia-friendly President Rumen Radev.

New snap polls or technocrat cabinet

However, analysts say political parties, aware of economic risks from the war in Ukraine, a difficult winter ahead and voters' frustration of political instability, might put their differences behind them and opt for a technocrat government. 

"Producing a government will be difficult and will require serious compromises," said Daniel Smilov, political analyst with Centre for Liberal Strategies.

Support for traditional parties like the ethnic Turkish MRF party, and Petkov's allies - the Socialists and the anti-graft Democratic Bulgaria - remains relatively unchanged since the last election in November.

Petkov's PP-led government took an unusually hawkish stance on Russia by Bulgaria, which has traditionally held friendly ties with Moscow. It refused, for example, to pay for Russian gas with roubles and has seen Gazprom cut off supplies.

One group that has seen more change is the pro-Russian ultra-nationalist Revival, which firmly opposes the adoption of the euro and wants to see Bulgaria out of NATO. It has more than doubled its support to about 11-14%, according to opinion polls.

Turnout is expected to be low with many voters angry over political infighting.

"I hope that all Bulgarians will come to their senses so ... we elect a stable government, but unfortunately the feeling I see do not give me promise," said 55-year-old lawyer Yulia Grozeva.

World+Biz

Bulgaria / election / Vote

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Will Bangladeshi garment exporters be able to meet EU's upcoming standards?
    Will Bangladeshi garment exporters be able to meet EU's upcoming standards?
  • A file photo of Election Commission building. Photo: Collected
    EC asks govt to transfer OCs, UNOs ahead of election
  • Illustration: TBS
    4 parties deny fielding candidates after EC data shows their contestants

MOST VIEWED

  • Illustration: TBS
    I am afraid even to post a thank you note on Facebook: Khadija
  • File photo of Bangladesh Bank. Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS
    Remitters can now deposit in forex – with up to 9% interest
  • Mominul Islam. File Photo: Courtesy
    IPDC CEO Mominul to step down after 4 terms
  • Despite some positives like, changes in wordings the major things workers demand have not been reflected in the amendments. Photo: TBS
    Bangladesh could be target of US labour policy, warns Washington mission
  • Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin
    Bangabandhu Tunnel: Tk4.11 crore in toll collected in first month
  • US dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration taken on 10 March 2023. Photo: Reuters
    Remittance dollar surges to Tk123, defying efforts to control it

Related News

  • 4 parties deny fielding candidates after EC data shows their contestants
  • One-sided election train bound to crash: Rizvi
  • Online nomination submission fails to gain traction
  • DRU election: Shuvo president, Mohiuddin general secretary
  • Deadline for JS polls nomination ends today, no possibility of extension: Jahangir Alam 

Features

(From Left) Sahid Hossain Mustakim, Sadia Ahmmed and Jishanul Islam are from United International University while Aadiba Tasneem Anam, who was not present at the event, studies at North South University. PHOTO: COURTESY

IPBlockchainPro: An invention by Bangladeshi students that could revolutionise the IP landscape

5h | Pursuit
Infograph: TBS

Elevate your leadership skills with free online courses

7h | Pursuit
Girls outperform boys in SSC and HSC. What prevents them from climbing higher? 

Girls outperform boys in SSC and HSC. What prevents them from climbing higher? 

13h | Panorama
Kissinger’s foreign policy and courses of action during his active years in office altered the lives of millions across the world. PHOTO: COLLECTED

Kissinger: A quiet end to a bloody legacy

17h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Small parties make big buzz

Small parties make big buzz

7h | TBS Stories
Saudi PIF to buy 10% stake in Heathrow Airport

Saudi PIF to buy 10% stake in Heathrow Airport

3h | TBS Economy
Are these the most thrilling hotels?

Are these the most thrilling hotels?

8h | TBS World
Is USA the obstacle to WB's climate finance?

Is USA the obstacle to WB's climate finance?

1d | TBS Economy
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net