GERB Leads Bulgaria's Snap Election: Path to Coalition Ahead

Bulgaria's centre-right GERB party emerged as the frontrunner in the latest snap parliamentary election with 26.2% of the votes, according to an exit poll. They must now seek coalition partners to form a government. Sunday's vote aimed at addressing political instability and enhancing EU fund flow and euro adoption.

Bulgaria's centre-right GERB party was seen in the lead after a snap parliamentary election on Sunday, an exit poll showed, but will have to find a coalition partners to form a government. A poll by Alpha Research showed GERB winning 26.2% of the votes, while reformist We Continue the Change (PP) was seen coming second, with 15.7% of the votes.

The ultra-nationalist Revival party is set to come third with 14.5% of the vote, while the Movement for Rights and Freedom (MRF), which mainly represents Bulgaria's large ethnic Turkish minority, was projected to win 14.3%. GERB would get 73 seats in the 240-seat parliament, while PP would get 44 seats, and Revival and MRF 41 and 40 seats respectively, according to the Alpha Research poll.

The state election commission said turnout up to 4 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) was 20.44%. Preliminary results are expected later on Sunday evening or early on Monday morning. However, analysts interviewed by Bulgarian BTV TV said that the race for second place may be too close to call, and that the result could vary between the three parties which follow GERB.

Bulgaria needs a period of stable, well-functioning government to accelerate the flow of EU funds into its creaking infrastructure and nudge it towards adopting the euro and fully participating in Europe's open-border Schengen Area. Sunday's vote, the sixth in three years, was triggered by the collapse in March of a coalition comprising GERB and the PP.

"No one achieves success without recognising the help of others. The confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. Thank you, GERB! Thank you to all of you who supported us!," GERB leader and former prime minister Boyko Borissov wrote on his Facebook page after exit polls came out. Bulgarians also voted for their representatives for the European Parliament on Sunday.

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