Bulgarian PM’s Ruling GERB Party Set for Shaky Election Win

PM Boyko Borissov casts his ballot in Sofia on Sunday. Photo: EPA-EFE/GOVERNMENT PRESS OFFICE.

The figures represent a significant fall in support for GERB from the last elections in 2017.

The recently-formed There's a Nation party, headed by veteran entertainer, singer and TV personality Slavi Trifonov, was in second with 19 per cent, and the Bulgarian Socialist Party in third with 14.88 per cent - a disappointing showing for the BSP, which came second four years ago.

Democratic Bulgaria, the only pro-EU, pro-Western party of the opposition forces, exceeded expectations and was in fourth place with 10.97 per cent. Democratic Bulgaria is also hoping to dethrone GERB in the capital as it has won in several of Sofia's districts.

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms, which has mainly focused its activity around the Turkish diaspora, has 8.71 percent.

Stand Up.BG, a party created following protests last year, is set to be the final addition to parliament with 5.08 percent.

Far-right party IMRO, which was a coalition partner of GERB for the last four years, ran solo and are is so far below the 4 per cent needed to enter parliament. Turnout was 47.5 per cent.

Bad news for Borissov

The early results show a significant drop in people's trust in both GERB and their opposition in parliament, the Bulgarian Socialist Party - in the 2017 elections, they got 33.54 per cent and 27.93 per cent respectively.

Borissov did not comment on the results before midnight, when an 11-minute video was posted on his Facebook page.

"Is there anyone more experienced than me? Someone more internationally renowned?" Borissov asked in the video. He added: "I know much better than my colleagues how Europe and how the...