Battle Heats up in Bulgaria for First Place in Knife-Edge Election

Bulgaria's former Prime Minister and leader of the 'We Continue the Change' party Kiril Petkov speaks at a rally in Sofia, 30 March 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/VASSIL DONEV

On Friday, however, Trend agency released its most recent poll, which gave a small lead to Boyko Borrisov's centre-right GERB, with 26.4 per cent, ahead of "We Continue the Change" / DB on 26.1 per cent - but they remain one of the few polls suggesting Borissov might win.

On Thursday, Gallup International's most recent survey predicted that WCT/DB would come first with 26.9 per cent, with GERB just behind with 26.5 per cent.

There will be a tight battle also for the third place between GERB allies Movement for Rights and Freedoms on 13,3 per cent, relying on the Turkish diaspora, and the far-righters of Revival at 13 per cent.

The "I don't support anybody" option in the ballot is oddly tipped to win 4 per cent of the voters — the threshold for a party to enter parliament. 

Market Links' survey from March 29 predicted a bigger lead for WTC with 23.7 per cent, with GERB in second place on 22.3 per cent.

At the beginning of March, Alpha Research gave a 1.2 per cent lead to Petkov, as of Thursday, his alliance is ahead by only 0.5 per cent.

In recent appearances, WTC co-leader Assen Vassilev told the media that in case of a victory, the party will present a minority government that will seek approval from parliament, including from GERB, but won't join a coalition with Borissov.

Polls indicate that the pro-Kremlin Bulgarian Socialist Party, part of Petkov's 2021-2022 coalition, might experience its most severe voter setback, taking only 7 to 8 per cent. 

According to recent polls, two other pro-Kremlin entities, "The Leftists!", consisting of...