(2 Apr 2023)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sofia - 2 April 2023
1. Various of Former PM Boyko Borissov and leader of GERB party casting his vote
2. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Boyko Borissov, leader of GERB party:
“I expect a higher voter turnout, because this is the most democratic way to say how you want a country to be governed, people have to say it. From what I see so far, it will take a lot of wisdom from the politicians. It's the fifth time we've come together to talk here, the same thing.”
3. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Boyko Borissov, leader of GERB party:
“This is the only way out of the crisis. With this terrible war in Ukraine, with this redistribution of the world and the entire supply chain, we very clearly have to stand with the democratic world.”
++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
STORYLINE:
Former Bulgarian prime minister Boyko Borissov cast his vote on Sunday in the country’s fifth general election in two years, which political leaders hoped would end government instability and provide a path to overcoming economic woes fueled by the war in Ukraine.
After casting his ballot, Borissov, who is the leader of GERB Party, said wisdom from politicians was the only way out of the crisis. He said Bulgaria must have a stable government.
“With this terrible war in Ukraine, with this redistribution of the world and the entire supply chain, we very clearly have to stand with the democratic world”, he added.
Turnout was expected to be low due to voter apathy and disillusionment with politicians, who have been repeatedly unable to cobble together a viable governing coalition.
The latest opinion polls suggested the chances for an immediate end to the political stalemate were low, with up to seven groups potentially reaching the 4% threshold to enter a fragmented parliament. According to the polls, populist and pro-Russia parties were likely to increase their representation.
Most pollsters see three-time Prime Minister Boyko Borissov’s center-right GERB party running neck-and-neck at around 26% with its main rival, Kiril Petkov’s liberal We Continue the Change party, which recently formed a coalition with the right-wing Democratic Bulgaria.
Traditionally, many Bulgarians share pro-Russia sentiments, which provides fertile soil for aggressive Kremlin propaganda in the poorest European Union member country.
Polls indicate the ultra-nationalist Vazrazhdane party, a fierce supporter of the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, could increase its parliamentary presence from 10% to 13% of seats.
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