Bulgarians on Sunday
cast their ballots in a general election -- the fourth in 18 months -- marked
by a raging war nearby, political instability, and economic hardships in the
European Union's poorest member.
Polling stations opened
at 7 a.m. (0400 GMT). First exit poll results will be announced after polls
close at 8 p.m. (1700 GMT) and preliminary results are expected Monday.
Surveys ahead of the
vote suggest that up to eight parties could muster the 4% threshold to enter a
fragmented parliament where populist and pro-Russia groups could increase their
representation.
Following a lame
campaign, turnout is expected to be low due to voters' apathy and
disillusionment with politicians unable to cobble together a viable government
coalition.
The early election
comes after a fragile coalition led by pro-Western Prime Minister Kiril Petkov
lost a no-confidence vote in June. He claimed afterward that Moscow used
"hybrid war” tactics to bring the government down as it refused to pay gas
bills in rubles and ordered a massive expulsion of Russian diplomats from
Bulgaria.
A low turnout favors
the former ruling GERB party of three-time former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov
that despite a further erosion in support can still count on a bulk of loyal
voters, and it is likeliest to finish first.
Still, the predicted
percentage won't be enough for Borissov's party to form a one-party government,
and the chances for a GERB-led coalition are slim as it is blamed for
corruption by most opponents.
A recent Gallup
International survey ranked GERB first with 25.8%, followed by its main rival
-- Kiril Petkov's We Continue the Change party with 16.6%.
Petkov rejected
pollster results as questionable and voiced confidence that the vote will yield
positive results for his We Continue the Change party.
"This time we will win
even more, and I expect that we will be able to form a coalition,” he said at
his party's final campaign rally Friday.
Many Bulgarians share
pro-Russian sentiments, which provides a fertile soil for the aggressive
Kremlin propaganda in the Balkan country.
The war in Ukraine was
among the main topics in this campaign and calls by the leader of the
pro-Russia party Vazrazhdane, Kostadin Kostadinov, for "full neutrality” of
Bulgaria in the war, or calls to renegotiate relations with the EU, are
attracting many voters.
VOA
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