SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov will find it difficult to stay in power after a wave of votes in an election on Sunday for anti-corruption and anti-establishment parties who want him out.
The parallel vote count in the polls predicts that his center-right GERB party will continue to be the largest grouping in parliament, but with only 25.2% of the vote, compared with the 33.5% he won four years ago.
Behind him, a new anti-establishment party founded by a TV presenter and singer ended in second place, with 17-17.5%, and two other protest parties that reject Borissov are also expected to enter parliament, taking control of the socialists. of the opposition.
After a decade of dominating Bulgarian politics, Borissov has few natural coalition partners.
Weeks of negotiations, or even another election, cannot be ruled out, meaning that Bulgaria, the poorest member of the European Union, may have difficulty obtaining 750 billion euros ($ 884 billion) from the Coronavirus Recovery Fund the EU.
Speaking before the official results were released, Borissov said the GERB won the vote and asked opposition leaders to consider a broad and specialized government that would focus on bringing EU money to the country affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Such a government could have a limited life until December, Borissov said.
“I offer you peace. I offer you to appoint experts, to take responsibility, ”he said in a video broadcast on Facebook. “This is my proposal for everyone, to enjoy the results for two, three days and then consider – what is stable and what is not.”
A former firefighter and bodyguard, Borissov, 61, sought to show his successes in modernizing Bulgaria’s decaying infrastructure in a low-key campaign after his popularity was eroded last year by massive protests against corruption and the power of the oligarchs.
“We are seeing the contours of a new Bulgaria, where Borissov can continue to win elections with his enormous administrative and financial resources, but he cannot remain in power,” said Hristo Ivanov, leader of Democratic Bulgaria’s anti-bribery party.
SURGING POPULISM
Complicating Borissov’s coalition-building options is the emergence of the anti-establishment party Há Tal Povo, by popular TV presenter and singer Slavi Trifonov, which has attracted people fed up with corruption-prone political elites.
Trifonov, 54, whose shows spiced with patriotic songs drew thousands, ruled out governing with the GERB, the socialists or the Turkish ethnic party MRF.
His popularity dates back to the 1990s, when he was a “chalga” singer. The pop-folk genre is a cultural phenomenon that has attracted controversy for its influence on young people, often blamed for a wave of populism in politics.
Democratic Bulgaria, one of the biggest forces in last summer’s massive protests, gained about 10-11%, polls showed. Another protest party, get up! Mafia Out! it will also enter the next parliament.
Borissov’s government presided over a 36% increase in the average monthly salary to 1,468 levs ($ 882), kept public debt low and guaranteed entry into the “waiting room” to join the euro.
But his failure to fight endemic corruption and reform the judiciary took thousands of protesters to the streets for months during 2020.
Protesters accused Borissov of approaching local oligarchs and channeling EU aid to companies close to the GERB, allegations he denies.
Bulgaria is considered the most corrupt member state in the EU, according to Transparency International. A recent report by the US State Department on human rights highlights serious problems with judicial independence and media freedom in the country.
The Turkish ethnic party MRF gained 10-11%, polls showed, while the nationalist party VMRO, which is the coalition partner of the GERB, is on the threshold of 4% to enter parliament.
($ 1 = 1.6628 leads)
Reporting by Tsvetelia Tsolova; Written by Justyna Pawlak; Editing by Gareth Jones, Timothy Heritage, Alison Williams, Peter Graff and Diane Craft