April 2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election

April 2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election
Bulgaria
← 2017 4 April 2021 (2021-04-04) July 2021 →
All 240 seats in the National Assembly
121 seats needed for a majority
Turnout49.10% (Decrease 4.75pp)
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/–
GERB–SDS Boyko Borisov 25.80 75 −20
ITN Slavi Trifonov 17.40 51 New
BSPzB Korneliya Ninova 14.79 43 −37
DPS Mustafa Karadayi 10.36 30 +4
DB A. Atanasov & H. Ivanov 9.31 27 +27
ISMV M. Manolova & N. Hadjigenov 4.65 14 New
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after
Boyko Borisov
GERB
(Third Borisov Government)		 Stefan Yanev
Independent
(First Yanev Government)

Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 4 April 2021 at the end of the term of the National Assembly elected in 2017.[1] Parties in the governing coalition led by Boyko Borisov lost seats and no party leader was able to form a coalition government within the time limit. This triggered the July 2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election.

Background

Main articles: 2021–2023 Bulgarian political crisis and 2020–2021 Bulgarian protests

Electoral system

The 240 members of the National Assembly are elected by open list proportional representation from 31 multi-member constituencies ranging in size from 4 to 16 seats. The electoral threshold is 4% for parties, with seats allocated using the largest remainder method.[2]

Parties and coalitions

The incumbent government was a coalition between the conservative GERB party of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and the nationalist United Patriots alliance (formed from IMRO, Attack and the NFSB), with the support of the populist Volya Movement. Together they held 132 out of 240 seats in the National Assembly.

During The Greens' 2020 national meeting, the party representatives voted in favor of a coalition at "the next parliamentary election with the other two members of Democratic Bulgaria". The party representatives voted against a "coalition with any of the political parties in the current National Assembly" - namely, GERB, BSP, DPS, Volya and OP.[3]

The deputy chairman of ITN, Toshko Yordanov, said in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio, that the party "will not enter a coalition with GERB, DPS or BSP".[4]

The cochairman of Democratic Bulgaria, Hristo Ivanov, stated in an interview for bTV, that "there will be no coalition with GERB, whether with or without Borisov".[5]

The chairman of Bulgaria for Citizens Movement, Dimitar Delchev, announced that his party was joining Stand Up.BG during a public presentation of the citizens' platform at Slaveykov Square, in August 2020.[6] The same was done by the chairman of Volt Bulgaria - Nastimir Ananiev,[7] as well as the chairman of the party Movement 21 - Tatyana Doncheva.[8] The citizens' organization The System Kills Us announced their support for Nikola Vaptsarov as their representative within Stand Up.BG.[7]

List

When only some of the leaders of a coalition are its official representatives, their names are in bold. All lines with a light gray background indicate support for a party or coalition that has been agreed upon outside of the official CEC electoral registration.

Name Ideology Leader(s) 2017 result Seats at
dissolution
Votes
(%) 		Seats
GERB–SDS GERB Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria Conservatism
Populism 		Boyko Borisov 32.65
95 / 240
94 / 240
SDS Union of Democratic Forces Conservatism
Christian democracy 		Rumen Hristov
DEN Movement for the Unity of the People Turkish minority interests Mehmed Dikme
BSP
for Bulgaria 		BSP Bulgarian Socialist Party Social democracy
Democratic socialism 		Korneliya Ninova 27.19
80 / 240
69 / 240
NZ New Dawn Left-wing nationalism Mincho Minchev
CPB Communist Party of Bulgaria Communism
Marxism–Leninism 		Aleksandar Paunov
– Ecoglasnost Green politics
Environmentalism 		Emil Georgiev
Trakiya Trakiya Political Club Bulgarian nationalism Stefan Nachev
VMRO IMRO–
BNM 		IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement Bulgarian ultranationalism
National conservatism 		Krasimir Karakachanov 9.07
(OP)
12 / 240
13 / 240
ROD Association „ROD International“ Conservatism David Alexandrov
SEK Middle European Class Pro-Europeanism Georgi Manev
SPSZ Union of Patriotic Forces "Defense" Bulgarian nationalism Petar Beron
ZS-AS Agrarian Union "Aleksandar Stamboliyski" Agrarianism
Progressivism 		Spas Panchev
Ataka Attack Bulgarian ultranationalism
Right-wing populism 		Volen Siderov 9.07
(OP)
6 / 240
6 / 240
DPS Movement for Rights and Freedoms Liberalism
Turkish minority interests 		Mustafa Karadayi 8.99
26 / 240
25 / 240
Patriotic
Coalition
Volya–NFSB 		Volya Volya Movement Right-wing populism
Anti-establishment 		Veselin Mareshki 4.15
21 / 240
21 / 240
NFSB National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria Bulgarian nationalism
National conservatism 		Valeri Simeonov
OSD United Social Democracy Social democracy Jordan Gergov
BSDP Bulgarian Social Democratic Party Social democracy Jordan Nihrizov
CDP Christian Democratic Party of Bulgaria Christian democracy Irina Arabadzhieva
RDP Radical Democratic Party in Bulgaria Liberalism Zahari Petrov
BDSR Bulgarian Democratic Union "Radicals" Agrarianism
Conservatism 		Tsvetan Manchev
BZNS Bulgarian Agrarian National Union Agrarianism
Centrism 		Nikolay Nenchev
SBDR Association "Bulgarian Homemade Brandy" Farmers' rights Petko Sabev
GN People's Voice Eurorealism
Populism 		Svetoslav Vitkov 3.06
(RB)
0 / 240
0 / 240
DB DSB Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria National liberalism
Pro-Europeanism 		Atanas Atanasov 3.06
(RB)
0 / 240
0 / 240
DaB! Yes, Bulgaria! Anti-corruption
Civic engagement 		Hristo Ivanov 2.88
ZD Green Movement Green politics
Green liberalism 		Borislav Sandov
Vladislav Panev
DEN Dignity of United People Liberalism Naiden Zelenogorski
ABV Alternative for Bulgarian Revival Social democracy
Social conservatism 		Rumen Petkov 1.55
0 / 240
0 / 240
Revival Revival Bulgarian nationalism
Anti-corruption 		Kostadin Kostadinov 1.08
0 / 240
0 / 240
Greens Party of the Greens Green politics
Anti-capitalism 		Vladimir Nikolov 0.29
0 / 240
0 / 240
Together
for Change 		BSDE Bulgarian Social Democracy – EuroLeft Social democracy
Third Way 		Aleksandar Tomov
Dimitar Mitev 		0.17
(KN)
0 / 240
0 / 240
ESI European Security and Integration Romani minority interests
Social democracy 		Toma Tomov
R 2000 Patriotism 2000 Patriotism Julian Ivanov
BNO BNO Bulgarian National Unification Bulgarian nationalism Georgi Georgiev 0.11
0 / 240
0 / 240
GPBL Civic Platform „Bulgarian Summer“ Populism Boris Sokolov
Citizens
of Protest 		BL Bulgarian Left Socialism
Democratic socialism 		Boyan Kirov 0.08
0 / 240
0 / 240
KOY Competence, Responsibility and Truth Right-wing[9] Svetozar Saev
BZP Bulgarian Agrarian Party Agrarianism Peycho Kasarov
SKB Union of Communists in Bulgaria Communism
Marxism 		Pavel Ivanov
We,
the Citizens 		KtB Coalition For you Bulgaria Pro-Europeanism
Centre-right 		Valeri Grigorov –
0 / 240
0 / 240
BDO Bulgarian Democratic Union Christian democracy Gospodin Tonev –
BNU–ND Bulgarian National Union – New Democracy Neo-Nazism
Racism
Hard Euroscepticism 		Boris Ivanov
Bogdan Yotsov 		–
0 / 240
0 / 240
KOD Conservative Union of the Right National conservatism Petar Moskov –
0 / 240
BPL Bulgarian Progressive Line Democratic socialism
Progressivism 		Krassimir Yankov –
5 / 240
VO Revival of the Fatherland Conservatism
Russophilia 		Nikolay Malinov –
0 / 240
Nation Nation Right-wing populism
Hard euroscepticism[10] 		Kiril Gumnerov –
0 / 240
MIR Morality, Initiative and Patriotism Conservatism Simeon Slavchev –
0 / 240
ISMV D21 Movement 21 Social democracy
Environmentalism 		Tatyana Doncheva –
0 / 240
DBG Bulgaria for Citizens Movement Centrism Dimitar Delchev
ENP United People's Party Liberalism
Pro-Europeanism 		Valentina Vasileva-Filadelfevs
IS.BG Stand Up.BG Anti-corruption
Anti-elitism 		Maya Manolova
OT Poisonous Trio and Citizens Direct democracy
Populism 		Nikolay Hadzhigenov
VOLT Volt Bulgaria Pro-Europeanism
European federalism 		Nastimir Ananiev
DNES Movement for National Unity and Salvation Social liberalism Angelica Tsokova
ZNS Agrarian People's Union Agrarianism Rumen Yonche
DNK Movement of Independent Candidates Populism[11] Boyko Mladenov
Boyko Nikiforov
Mincho Kuminev
Ognyan Boyukliev 		–
0 / 240
RzB Republicans for Bulgaria Conservatism
Economic liberalism 		Tsvetan Tsvetanov –
1 / 240
Pravoto Rights, Reforms, Alternative, Opportunities,
Responsibility, Tolerance and Unity 		Populism Maria Koleva –
0 / 240
BOG Prosperity, Unification, Constructiveness Patriotism Ivan Gaberov –
0 / 240
ONB ONB Society for New Bulgaria Conservatism Kalin Krulev –
0 / 240
ZM NGO "Green Mladost" Green politics Desislava Ivancheva
BSDD Bulgarian Union for Direct Democracy Direct democracy Georgi Nedelchev –
0 / 240
ITN There Is Such A People Populism
Direct democracy 		Slavi Trifonov –
0 / 240
PD Direct Democracy Direct democracy Peter Klisarov –
0 / 240
Independents[12] – – – 0.15
0 / 240
19 / 240

Opinion polls

The opinion poll results below were recalculated from the original data and exclude pollees that chose 'I will not vote' or 'I am uncertain'.

Polling firm Fieldwork date Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		GERB BSP DPS OP[a] DB Volya ITN ISMV Others / None Lead
Alpha Research (voters) 26 Feb–1 Mar 2021 1,013 – 28.5%[b] 23.2% 12.5% 3.7%[c] 5.7% 1.8%[d] 13.3% 4.5% 6.8% 5.3%
Mediana 22–26 Feb 2021 943 – 27.5%[b] 24.2% 10.7% 4.0%[c] 4.2% 3.1%[d] 15.2% 5.0% 6.1% 3.3%
Market Links (voters) 17–24 Feb 2021 1,019 – 24.6%[b] 18.9% 8.5% 2.7%[c] 7.6% – 13.0% 3.9% 20.8% 5.7%
Trend (voters) 12–19 Feb 2021 1,008 ± 3.1% 28.9%[b] 24.1% 11.1% 3.8%[c] 6.2% 2.6%[d] 12.9% 4.0% 6.4% 4.8%
Gallup (voters) 4–12 Feb 2021 1,011 ± 3.1% 25.8%[b] 21.9% 12.4% 4.2%[c] 6.8% 2.7%[d] 13.1% 4.7% 8.4% 3.9%
Market Links (voters) 23–31 Jan 2021 500 – 28.6% 20.9% 11.9% 3.4% 10.7% – 15.5% 5.3% 3.8% 7.7%
Market Links (all) 23–31 Jan 2021 1,000 – 25.5% 22.5% 11.2% 4.3% 8% – 18.1% 6.6% 3.8% 3%
Trend (voters) 12–19 Jan 2021 1,008 ± 3.1% 27.6% 24.9% 10.3% 4% 6% 1.3% 11.8% 4.1% 10% 2.7%
Gallup (voters) 7–15 Jan 2021 1,010 ± 3.1% 25.6%[b] 21.4% 12.2% 5.1% 6.9% 2.3% 13.8% 5% 7.6% 4.2%
Alpha Research (voters) 15–21 Dec 2020 504 – 29% 26.2% 8.6% 3.2% 7.3% – 12.2% 5.9% 7.6% 2.8%
Mediana 12–17 Dec 2020 954 – 24.2% 25.7% 10.8% 4.7% 3.4% 1.6% 17% 4.8% 7.8% 1.5%
Exacta 5–12 Dec 2020 1,025 – 28.8% 25.6% 8.4% 5.4% 6% – 14% 3.7% 8.1% 3.2%
Barometer 24–29 Nov 2020 847 – 33.5% 20.8% 13.2% 12.7% 5.2% 1.2% 6.2% 2.5% 4.8% 12.7%
Barometer 6–11 Nov 2020 882 – 33.6% 21.6% 12.3% 12% 5.1% 1.1% 6.1% 2.6% 5.7% 12%
Sova Harris 27 Oct–3 Nov 2020 1,000 ± 3.1% 26.6%[b] 25.1% 8.7% 5.5% 8.4% 3.2% 11.4% 5.7% 5.4% 1.5%
Rego (voters) 21–27 Oct 2020 2,000 – 27.1% 26.3% 8.3% 2.8% 7.6% 1.1% 18.6% 3.9% 4.3% 0.8%
Specter (voters) 12–16 Oct 2020 1,016 – 22.9% 21.8% 10.4% 3.4% 12.2% 0.8% 16.1% 3.5% 8.9% 1.1%
Barometer 10–16 Oct 2020 866 – 32.7% 23.6% 12.4% 11.3% 4.7% 1.1% 6.1% 2.7% 5.3% 9.1%
Trend (voters) 3–10 Oct 2020 1,008 ± 3.1% 24.1% 23.6% 10.2% 3.8% 8.8% 1.6% 15.9% 3.9% 8.1% 0.5%
Gallup 1–9 Oct 2020 803 ± 3.5% 19.1% 19.8% 10.1% 3.4% 7.3% 2.6% 12.6% 3.7% 21.4% 0.7%
Alpha Research (voters) 21–30 Sep 2020 1,031 – 22.8% 21.8% 11% 4.2% 10.5% 0.3% 16.6% 5.1% 7.7% 1%
Market Links (voters)[e] 18–26 Sep 2020 544 – 27.4% 27.2% 9.9% 2.7% 11.8% – 13.5% 3.1% 4.4% 0.2%
Market Links (all) 18–26 Sep 2020 1,058 – 24.6% 25.5% 11.7% 2.8% 10% – 17% 4.2% 4.2% 0.9%
Gallup 3–11 Sep 2020 807 ± 3.5% 18.6% 19% 10.7% 3.8% 7.3% 2.5% 11.7% 3.1% 22.6% 0.4%
Trend (voters) 29 Aug–5 Sep 2020 1,008 ± 3.1% 23.8% 23.4% 10.4% 3.9% 9.9% 1.2% 15.9% 4% 7.5% 0.4%
Sova Harris 19–25 Aug 2020 1,000 ± 3.1% 27.7%[b] 24.5% 9.2% 4.4% 7% 3% 15.7% 4.5% 4% 3.2%
Barometer 3–11 Aug 2020 842 – 38.9% 18.9% 12.2% 11.7% 4.8% 1.7% 5.3% 1.9% 4.5% 20%
Trend (voters) 3–10 Aug 2020 1,010 ± 3.1% 24.2% 22.9% 9.8% 4.1% 10.1% 1.2% 14.9% 4.4% 8.4% 1.3%
Gallup 30 Jul–7 Aug 2020 811 ± 3.5% 20% 19.1% 9.4% 3.2% 7.9% 2.2% 10.9% 3.3% 24.1% 0.9%
CAM 1–5 Aug 2020 1,021 ± 3.1% 30.1%[b] 19.7% 10.8% 4.3% 10.1% 2.1% 13.9% 5% 3.9% 10.4%
Market Links (voters) 28 Jul–3 Aug 2020 573 – 26.3% 24.7% 10.5% 5% 12.8% – 13.8% 2.5% 4.5% 1.6%
Market Links (all) 28 Jul–3 Aug 2020 1,093 – 23.3% 20.7% 9.6% 4.6% 10.1% – 23% 4% 4.7% 0.3%
Gallup Jul 2020 – ± 3.5% 27.4% 25.7% 8.5% 4.4% 3.2% 2.4% 8.6% 1.8% 17.9% 1.7%
Alpha Research 23–30 Jul 2020 1,017 – 26.7% 19.2% 8.3% 4.1% 12.3% 0.9% 18.8% 5.9% 3.9% 7.5%
Sova Harris 26 Jun–1 Jul 2020 1,000 – 37.4% 21.4% 7.7% 7.5% 4.2% 4.2% 9.1% 2.6% 5.8% 16%
Gallup Jun 2020 – ± 3.5% 29% 23.1% 7.9% 3.8% 3.2% 2.4% 7% 2.4% 21.3% 5.9%
Barometer 20–25 Jun 2020 828 – 37.5% 20.4% 11.2% 10.1% 3.4% 1.5% 3.8% 1.7% 10.5% 17.1%
Market Links (voters) 27 May–3 Jun 2020 483 – 34.1% 25.6% 9.8% 3.7%[f] 8.5% – 9.8% – 8.5% 8.5%
Alpha Research 28 Apr–5 May 2020 1,000 – 33.4% 19.6% 10.3% 6.3% 5.9% 1.6% 14.6% – 8.2% 13.8%
Mediana 21–28 Feb 2020 1,008 – 29.4% 25.7% 13.3% 5.8% 2.7% 1.9% 12.9% – 8.3% 3.7%
Barometer 27 Feb 2020 – – 35.2% 24% 10.5% 9%[f] 3.1% 1.4% 3.7% 1.6% 11.5% 11.2%
Trend 3–10 Feb 2020 1,007 ± 3.1% 30.6% 27.3% 10.1% 3.9%[f] 6% 2% 10.7% – 9.4% 3.3%
Barometer (voters) 9–13 Jan 2020 873 – 35.5% 28.2% 11% 11% 3.2% – 3.6% – 7.5% 7.3%
Alpha Research 5–12 Dec 2019 1,017 – 29.8% 25% 10.7% 7.3%[f] 7% 2.1% 11.8% – 6.2% 4.8%
Market Links (voters) 21–28 Nov 2019 448 – 29.4% 29.4% 8.2% 5.9% 10.6% 2.4% 10.6% – 4.7% Tie
Market Links (all) 21–28 Nov 2019 980 – 28.6% 25.4% 12.7% 6.3% 7.9% 1.6% 12.7% – 3.2% 3.2%
Trend 7–15 Nov 2019 1,008 ± 3.1% 35.6% 27.5% 10.3% 5.1% 4.6% 1.8% 7.6% – 7.3% 8.1%
Alpha Research 10–16 Sep 2019 1,023 – 29.6% 25.8% 11.8% 6.6% 5.6% 2.8% 11.4% – 6.3% 3.8%
Market Links (voters) 11–19 Jun 2019 429 – 34.9% 33% 9.1% 6.8% 6% 3.8% – – 6.4% 1.9%
Trend 5–12 Jun 2019 1,008 ± 3.1% 36.7% 29.1% 10.9% 7.6% 5.1% 1.8% – – 8.8% 7.6%
2017 election 26 Mar 2017 – – 32.65% 27.19% 8.99% 9.07% 5.36%[g] 4.15% – – 12.59% 5.46%

Notes:

  1. ^ Percentages might not include Ataka's results, as they left the coalition around mid-2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i In an electoral alliance with SDS.
  3. ^ a b c d e IMRO-BNM only.
  4. ^ a b c d In an electoral alliance with NFSB.
  5. ^ The original source data had percentages that totaled 100.2 due to rounding. Due to a lack of better data, the same is true for the recalculated percentages.
  6. ^ a b c d Results of VMRO only, no information on NFSB's results, which are probably counted as 'Others'.
  7. ^ Combined results of separate coalitions led by Yes, Bulgaria! and DSB. The former achieved a result of 2.88%, while the latter won 2.48% of the vote.


Graphical representation of recalculated data:

Note: The above data does not include Barometer polls, due to claims by other pollsters and media that the agency only has one employee.[13]

Results

PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
GERB–SDS837,70725.80–6.975–20
There Is Such A People565,01417.40New51New
BSP for Bulgaria480,14614.79–12.443–37
Movement for Rights and Freedoms336,30610.36+1.430+4
Democratic Bulgaria302,2809.31+4.027+27
Stand Up! Mafia, Get Out!150,9404.65New14New
IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement116,4343.59New0–12
Bulgarian National Unification94,5152.91New0New
Revival78,4142.41+1.300
Patriotic Coalition (Volya–NFSB)75,9262.34–1.80–9
Republicans for Bulgaria42,0571.30New0New
Movement of Independent Candidates16,8680.52New0New
Attack15,6590.48New0–6
Alternative for Bulgarian Revival14,7980.46–1.100
Revival of the Fatherland13,1820.41New0New
Conservative Union of the Right9,4150.29New0New
People's Voice8,3080.26New0New
Green Party5,5540.17New0New
We, the Citizens4,7880.15New0New
Bulgarian Progressive Line3,7510.12New0New
Morality, Initiative, Patriotism3,6530.11New0New
Together for Change3,4850.11New0New
Society for New Bulgaria3,4380.11New0New
Direct Democracy3,4080.10New0New
Bulgarian Union for Direct Democracy3,3420.10New0New
Bulgarian National Union – New Democracy2,9010.09New0New
Citizens of Protest2,3560.07New0New
The Right2,1650.07New0New
Prosperity-Unification-Building1,5860.05New0New
Nation8970.03New0New
Independents4280.01–0.100
None of the above47,7491.47–1.0––
Total3,247,470100.00–2400
Valid votes3,247,47097.40
Invalid/blank votes86,5272.60
Total votes3,333,997100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,789,60549.10–3.5
Source: CIK
Strength of each party in each constituency in the election

By constituency

Constituency GERB–SDS ITN BSPzB DPS DB ISMV VMRO Others
Blagoevgrad 34.94% 14.99% 12.58% 13.55% 5.10% 3.00% 6.59% 9.25%
Burgas 25.68% 15.33% 14.29% 12.85% 7.18% 5.89% 4.35% 14.43%
Varna 28.84% 19.24% 11.27% 5.65% 8.75% 5.24% 5.98% 15.03%
Veliko Tarnovo 24.00% 20.87% 21.99% 6.61% 6.03% 4.38% 4.11% 12.01%
Vidin 33.13% 14.93% 20.52% 8.78% 4.79% 3.17% 2.85% 11.83%
Vratsa 32.99% 17.63% 16.26% 10.34% 4.28% 3.93% 3.72% 10.85%
Gabrovo 32.20% 19.82% 15.71% 3.68% 5.40% 5.84% 3.41% 13.94%
Dobrich 27.49% 16.86% 19.33% 8.43% 5.52% 4.56% 3.36% 14.45%
Kardzhali 15.30% 5.34% 8.13% 63.05% 2.11% 1.10% 0.49% 4.48%
Kyustendil 31.95% 17.59% 19.59% 1.87% 4.66% 6.16% 4.51% 13.67%
Lovech 35.11% 16.80% 16.09% 10.17% 4.23% 4.29% 2.79% 10.52%
Montana 34.12% 13.56% 14.64% 13.36% 3.04% 3.89% 2.81% 14.58%
Pazardzhik 30.14% 15.91% 16.48% 14.43% 4.12% 3.38% 3.10% 12.44%
Pernik 36.74% 17.48% 16.98% 1.15% 6.00% 5.14% 3.15% 13.36%
Pleven 24.63% 24.23% 18.75% 5.13% 4.60% 4.28% 5.69% 12.69%
Plovdiv-city 25.49% 19.94% 14.63% 2.95% 12.65% 5.08% 4.41% 14.85%
Plovdiv-province 24.87% 18.64% 20.48% 8.50% 4.74% 4.51% 3.26% 15.00%
Razgrad 22.35% 9.01% 9.61% 40.08% 7.51% 1.98% 1.21% 8.25%
Ruse 20.86% 20.98% 18.86% 9.06% 7.99% 5.02% 5.63% 11.60%
Silistra 29.31% 12.01% 13.39% 27.12% 3.49% 2.87% 3.84% 7.97%
Sliven 30.80% 17.22% 17.76% 8.20% 5.51% 5.32% 2.67% 12.52%
Smolyan 29.41% 16.06% 13.53% 20.89% 4.06% 3.72% 1.53% 10.80%
Sofia-city 23 20.17% 14.40% 13.32% 0.57% 28.48% 6.54% 3.32% 13.20%
Sofia-city 24 22.62% 15.41% 13.07% 1.33% 24.43% 5.96% 3.53% 13.65%
Sofia-city 25 24.08% 18.81% 14.70% 0.72% 16.12% 6.28% 4.09% 15.20%
Sofia-province 35.19% 19.02% 16.64% 4.14% 5.24% 3.85% 4.61% 11.31%
Stara Zagora 22.34% 20.70% 16.57% 12.20% 6.23% 6.07% 2.98% 12.91%
Targovishte 18.40% 11.74% 13.41% 37.52% 2.67% 2.63% 1.67% 11.96%
Haskovo 37.34% 14.20% 14.87% 13.40% 4.72% 4.32% 1.42% 9.73%
Shumen 27.69% 14.50% 14.50% 22.65% 3.43% 3.42% 2.80% 11.01%
Yambol 24.38% 18.72% 27.27% 1.54% 5.08% 6.00% 2.34% 14.67%
Bulgarian nationals abroad 8.66% 30.75% 6.52% 13.17% 17.56% 4.24% 1.57% 17.53%
Source: CIK

Voter demographics

Gallup exit polling suggested the following demographic breakdown.[14] The parties which received below 4% of the vote are included in 'Others':

Voter demographics
Social group % GERB % ITN % BSP % DPS % DB % ISMV % VMRO % Others % Lead
Exit Poll Result 23 17 16 10 10 5 4 15 6
Final Result 25.8 17.4 14.8 10.4 9.3 4.7 3.6 14 8.4
Gender
Men 22 17 16 12 9 3 5 15 5
Women 23 17 17 8 11 6 3 14 6
Age
18–30 15 30 7 11 14 2 3 18 15
30-60 24 18 13 10 11 6 4 14 6
60+ 23 8 33 11 6 4 4 11 10
Highest Level of Education
Lower Education 20 6 22 35 2 1 3 11 13
Secondary Education 24 17 19 12 4 4 4 16 5
Higher Education 21 19 14 2 19 7 4 14 2
Ethnic Group
Bulgarian 23 18 18 2 11 5 5 18 5
Turkic 13 3 7 67 1 1 1 7 54
Roma 24 10 18 27 2 2 4 13 3
Location
Towns and Villages 24 10 18 26 2 3 5 12 2
Smaller Cities 24 19 20 9 3 4 5 16 4
Larger Cities 23 20 16 2 10 6 4 18 3
Sofia 19 15 12 0 30 6 3 15 11

Analysis

Both GERB and BSP had very poor results and there was a large turnover with a third of the seats taken by parties not represented in the previous parliament.[15] A central theme in the election was purported corruption in the GERB-led government, which saw GERB lose seats and various anti-corruption parties gain, most notably Slavi Trifonov's ITN, but also DB and ISMV. The Bulgarian Socialist Party suffered from division between its leader Korneliya Ninova and other factions.[16] The BSP recorded their worst-ever result in a democratic election.[15] The far-right parties also suffered from splits, losing their representation in parliament;[16] the Attack party and the two remaining parties from the United Patriots alliance (the National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria and Volya Movement) contested the elections separately, with none winning a seat. The three combined results of the three parties suggested they could have crossed the electoral threshold if they had run together.

The election happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated a greater focus on online campaigning.[16] Contrary to expectations, voter turnout was broadly unchanged.[15]

Government formation

After his offer of a technocrat government was rejected by the opposition, Borisov said that as leader of the largest party, he would try to form a coalition government, and that he would also be open to supporting an ITN-led government. However, Borisov himself stated he would likely be unsuccessful in forming a coalition, with the likeliest outcomes being either a caretaker government followed by new elections or a coalition of parties new to Parliament.[17][16]

After former foreign minister Daniel Mitov, whom Boyko Borisov had nominated as GERB's candidate for prime minister,[18] failed to form a government,[19] the mandate was then offered to Slavi Trifonov's ITN. Chess grandmaster Antoaneta Stefanova, whom Trifonov appointed to take the mandate from president Rumen Radev immediately returned it in accordance with Trifonov's wish.[20] Korneliya Ninova of BSPzB formally received the final mandate from president Radev on 5 May 2021, but refused to form a government due to a lack of support from other parliamentary opposition parties.[21] This triggered an early election (to be held on 11 July), and the president appointed a caretaker government led by Stefan Yanev[22] to run the country until the elections are over and a permanent administration is formed.[23][21]

References

  1. ^ Президентът насрочи парламентарните избори на 4 април Archived 2021-01-14 at the Wayback Machine Dnevnik, 14 January 2021
  2. ^ Electoral system for national legislature – Bulgaria Archived 2021-07-07 at the Wayback Machine IDEA
  3. ^ Владислав Панев и Борислав Сандов бяха преизбрани за съпредседатели на „Зелено движение“ Archived 2020-10-24 at the Wayback Machine The Greens, 28 September 2020
  4. ^ За партията на Слави Трифонов са забранени съюзи с ГЕРБ, БСП и ДПС Archived 2020-11-04 at the Wayback Machine OFF News, 7 October 2020
  5. ^ Христо Иванов: Коалиция с ГЕРБ няма да има със или без Борисов Archived 2021-12-08 at the Wayback Machine OFF News, 11 October 2020
  6. ^ "Димитър Делчев: Можем и имаме силите да изгоним грабливите животни от властническото гнездо". Archived from the original on 2020-11-07. Retrieved 2020-10-21 – via www.youtube.com.
  7. ^ a b "НАСТИМИР АНАНИЕВ: ВЛАСТТА СЕ ПРОВАЛИ И НЕ ИЗПЪЛНИ ОЧАКВАНИЯТА НА СУВЕРЕНА". Archived from the original on 2020-10-18. Retrieved 2020-10-21 – via www.youtube.com.
  8. ^ "Татяна Дончева и Движение 21 се присъединяват към мрежата Изправи се.БГ". Archived from the original on 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2020-10-21 – via www.youtube.com.
  9. ^ https://europeelects.eu/bulgaria/ Archived 2021-04-04 at the Wayback Machine Bulgaria - Europe Elects
  10. ^ Програма на ПП „Нация“ Archived 2021-07-07 at the Wayback Machine. // Нация.бг. Посетен на 25 март 2021 г.
  11. ^ Устав на „Движение на непартийните кандидати“ Archived 2021-05-20 at the Wayback Machine. // Justice.bg. Глава втора: Принципи, цели и начини за постигането им, страница 1. Посетен на 25 февруари 2021 г.
  12. ^ Includes all deputies without a parliamentary group
  13. ^ When the numbers 'smell fishy'. How a party-colored agency sends something and BNT shows it Archived 2021-04-03 at the Wayback Machine. // Svobodnaevropa.bg. Visited on 5 February 2021.
  14. ^ "Демографски профили на вота – 4 April" (in Bulgarian). 2021-07-12.
  15. ^ a b c Junes, Tom (April 6, 2021). "Election Surprises End Bulgaria's Political Stability". Balkan Insight. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  16. ^ a b c d Zankina, Emilia; Lin, Yuxiang; Haughton, Tim (April 7, 2021). "Bulgaria's election was all about corruption, not covid-19. Here are 4 takeaways". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  17. ^ "Bulgarian PM Seeks Coalition Government But Says Effort 'Unlikely To Succeed". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. April 7, 2021. Archived from the original on June 7, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  18. ^ "Bulgaria's elections: Borissov says will propose Daniel Mitov as PM". April 14, 2021. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  19. ^ "Bulgaria's GERB party fails to form a government, new polls loom". Reuters. April 23, 2021. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021 – via www.reuters.com.
  20. ^ "Bulgaria: Trifonov's party formally refuses mandate to form government". April 28, 2021. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  21. ^ a b "Bulgaria's president to call July election and appoint technocrat interim government". Reuters. May 5, 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-05-05. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  22. ^ "Служебният премиер Стефан Янев: Аз съм човек, който не дава празни обещания". nova.bg (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 2021-05-12. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  23. ^ "Bulgaria faces fresh vote as Socialists refuse to form government". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 2021-05-01. Retrieved 2021-05-01.