In the early general elections held for the 5th time in the last 2 years, more than 99 percent of the votes were counted, and the Citizens’ Initiative for the European Future of Bulgaria (GERB) and the Union of Democratic Forces (SDS) parties led by the former Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov. The alliance completed the election in first place, with 26.54 percent of the votes.
The alliance, consisting of We Continue to Change (PP) and Democratic Bulgaria (DP) parties led by former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, won 24.61 percent of the vote, the Vazrajdane (Re-Awakening) party, which is known for its anti-European Union (EU) and NATO rhetoric and its closeness to Russia. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (HÖH), the majority of whom were Turks, received 14.91 percent of the votes and 13.55 percent of the votes. The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) received 8.96 percent of the votes, and the Party of Such a People, founded by singer Slavi Trifonov, received 4.12 percent of the votes and was entitled to enter the parliament.
HÖH RECEIVED 93 PERCENT OF THE VOTES IN TURKEY
While 737 ballot boxes were set up in 61 countries for the general elections in Bulgaria, 162 ballot boxes were set up in 24 provinces in Turkey. While approximately 70 thousand people voted at the ballot boxes in Turkey, MRF received 93 percent of the votes.
NEGOTIATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN FOR THE COALITION GOVERNMENT
In the election, where no political party could reach 121 seats in the parliament, the parties are expected to start negotiations to form a coalition government soon. Experts stated that the parties in the parliament would have difficulty in forming a coalition and described the election result as “a clear sign of the division of society”. Many experts predict that with the local elections to be held in the autumn, Bulgaria will hold early elections again.
POLITICAL CRISIS IN BULGARIA
In Bulgaria, on 22 June 2022, the coalition government led by Prime Minister Kiril Petkov lost the vote of confidence in the parliament. The political crisis that started after the fall of the government deepened with the failure of other parties in the parliament to form a government.
President Rumen Radev gave the task of forming the government to GERB, which completed the election in the first place, and GERB failed. While the PP-DP alliance, which Radev later gave the task, could not form the government, the BSP was also unable to fulfill the task. Radev had decided to hold re-elections when 3 of the 7 political parties that entered the parliament failed in their attempt to form a coalition government.
On the other hand, after the general elections held on April 4, 2021, July 11, 2021 and November 14, 2021 in the country, efforts to form a government were unsuccessful. (UAV)