Early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria: New anti-system party grows in popularity

The new anti-systemic party of Of Bulgaria “There Is Such a People” (ITN) comes head-to-head with the center-right GERB, which has been in power for most of the past decade, according to a poll released today ahead of Sunday’s snap parliamentary elections. .

Anger at political elites, which many blame for Bulgaria remaining the poorest and most corrupt EU member state, has bolstered support for ITN, which was founded by TV presenter Slavi Trifonov.

The poll, released today by Sofia-based Alpha Research, shows that dITN’s popularity rose to 21.8% from 17.7% secured in April elections, in which a second largest party had emerged.

The center-right GERB, under longtime Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, mobilized its supporters ahead of Sunday’s election and is just 0.3% behind ITN, but still well behind the 26.2% it secured in the election. of April.

GERB came first in the election three months ago, but is accused by its opponents of fueling endemic corruption in the country and found no partners to govern.

Early elections on Sunday are being held to break the deadlock, and the ITN has failed to secure a parliamentary majority.

The poll shows that support for ITN and its potential partners, the anti-corruption parties Democratic Bulgaria and “Mafia Out!”, Will also not be enough to secure a parliamentary majority and form a government.

Democratic Bulgaria is expected to secure 12% of the vote, while “The Mafia is out!” 5.4%.

“Despite the improvement in their position, the protest parties are not securing the 120 seats required for a majority,” the polling institute said in a statement.

“That is why the coalition formula is probably the most important issue in the next parliament, as it happened after the April elections,” he added.

Bulgaria nearly doubled the number of constituencies abroad for Sunday’s election – something that could boost the turnout of ITN and Democratic Bulgaria, the two main recipients of the Bulgarian diaspora vote in previous elections, according to analysts.

Two other parties have a chance of entering the next parliament. According to the poll, the Socialists remain the third most popular party with 16.4%, while support for the Turkish minority MRF party stands at 11.5%.

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