Bulgarian election too close to call after fifth vote in two years – POLITICO

No clear winner emerged in Bulgaria’s election on Sunday night, much to the dismay of voters who have been to the polls five times in the last two years.

In the first release of results, it seemed that the pro-Western coalition, Continuing the Change and Democratic Bulgaria, had won a narrow majority with 26.4 percent, beating the center-right establishment party, GERB, which scored 25.5 percent. But in a recount, the former scored 24.8 percent while the latter secured the lead with 25.9 percent.

Observers expect a clear winner to emerge by Monday after all international voters’ ballots are counted.

The vote is seen by many as a make-or-break test for GERB, whose leader Boyko Borissov served as prime minister from 2009 to 2021, until nationwide protests erupted over his government’s role in the country’s rampant corruption.

Continuing the Change, led by Harvard graduates Kiril Petkov and Asen Vasilev, and Democratic Bulgaria, led by Hristo Ivanov, have campaigned on a promise to make Bulgaria a “European country,” by raising the standard of healthcare and education, and making the judiciary and prosecutor’s office independent. They are the favorite among younger voters.

If the country once again fails to produce a functioning government, it could undermine its hopes of joining the eurozone in the future and effectively using its EU COVID recovery aid.