Bulgarians vote in parliamentary election

SOFIA Bulgarians are on Sunday voting in early parliamentary election. Around seven million citizens are eligible to vote for candidates of 36 political parties. Opinion polls show that neither of two largest parties - conservative GERB and Socialists BSP will be able to win the majority of votes and form the government on its own. Bulgarians vote in parliamentary election Bulgarian government was forced to step down in February after mass protests against corruption, growing unemployment and high electricity bills. Sova Harris’ poll shows that former PM Boiko Borisov’s GERB is slightly in the lead over the BSP. According to the poll, 20.9 percent of Bulgarians support GERB while the Socialists are supported by 20.4 percent of citizens. Experts expect that a close result could leave the poorest European Union country without a working government. Whichever party comes first will face the tough task of finding at least two coalition partners in a severely fragmented parliament that might include up to five other parties. These could include the ultra-nationalist Ataka party, the Turkish minority party MRF and potential kingmaker DGB, a new centrist party formed by ex-European commissioner Meglena Kuneva, AFP has reported. GERB pledges to keep debts under control, while the Socialists say they will spend more and create jobs, Reuters has reported. Voters' dim view of the system six years after joining the EU was exacerbated Saturday with the discovery of 350,000 illegal ballots at a printing firm whose owner is reportedly close to GERB. (Beta/AP) Beta Tanjug

Bulgarians vote in parliamentary election

Bulgarian government was forced to step down in February after mass protests against corruption, growing unemployment and high electricity bills.

Sova Harris’ poll shows that former PM Boiko Borisov’s GERB is slightly in the lead over the BSP.

According to the poll, 20.9 percent of Bulgarians support GERB while the Socialists are supported by 20.4 percent of citizens.

Experts expect that a close result could leave the poorest European Union country without a working government.

Whichever party comes first will face the tough task of finding at least two coalition partners in a severely fragmented parliament that might include up to five other parties.

These could include the ultra-nationalist Ataka party, the Turkish minority party MRF and potential kingmaker DGB, a new centrist party formed by ex-European commissioner Meglena Kuneva, AFP has reported.

GERB pledges to keep debts under control, while the Socialists say they will spend more and create jobs, Reuters has reported.

Voters' dim view of the system six years after joining the EU was exacerbated Saturday with the discovery of 350,000 illegal ballots at a printing firm whose owner is reportedly close to GERB.