Bulgaria’s fifth general election in two years produced no clear winner, according to exit polls and a parallel count of official results, likely extending a deadlock that has paralyzed politics and put at risk European Union unity over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The parties of former prime ministers Kiril Petkov and Boyko Borissov finished neck-and-neck with 26.4% and 25.5%, respectively, in Sunday’s parliamentary vote, according to an Alfa Research exit poll published by BNT TV. At the same time, a parallel count of a sample from 100% of polling stations by the Trend Research Center showed Borissov’s Gerb party ahead of the bloc led by Petkov’s We Continue the Change 26.2% to 25%.
As many as four other parties also made it into parliament, according to the parallel count, which may not precisely reflect official results expected on Monday at the earliest.
