Bulgaria Faces More Turmoil as Top Rivals Run Neck-and-Neck - Pollster

Bulgarians go to the polls on 12 May in an early election after nationwide protests against low living standards and widespread corruption forced the government of the centre-right GERB party to resign in February. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Bulgaria’s elections set for Sunday could lead to more political turmoil, turning into just the prelude to another early vote, a pollster has predicted.

A brand new Mediana agency survey has indicated that the center-right party that led the previous administration and its main, left-leaning challenger are running neck-and-neck, increasing the possibility of prolonged uncertainty over the formation of a government.

“Even if GERB takes a 2%-3% lead over the Socialists, the prospect of an outright winner, who can form a government on its own, is out of the question,” Kolyo Kolev from Mediana polling agency wrote in Trud daily.

“Paradoxically, the key to the formation of a parliamentary majority may turn out to be up to the weakest part in the puzzle – the party of former European Commissioner Meglena Kuneva,” Kolev predicted.

“If Kuneva’s party manages to beat the 4% threshold to enter parliament, she may decide to hand the mandate to a coalition between GERB and the nationalist Ataka or alternatively to a coalition between the Socialists and the ethnic Turks.”

Kolev expects these negotiations to be done behind the curtains.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!