Turnout and Exit Polls Bode Well for Bulgarian Parties Promising Change
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- Bulgarians voted in large numbers in national elections, signaling a strong desire for change following mass protests in December that led to the government's resignation.
- Exit polls indicated a decisive shift away from the center-right party GERB, which has dominated Bulgarian politics for the past decade, with voters favoring parties promising anti-corruption reforms.
- The new coalition Progressive Bulgaria, led by former President Rumen Radev, was leading with approximately 37-38% of the vote according to exit polls.
- GERB, the party of former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, came in second with a significantly reduced vote share, while the liberal alliance We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria, key organizers of the protests, gained third place with 13-14%.
- Both Progressive Bulgaria and We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria campaigned on combating corruption linked to Borissov and influential politician Delyan Peevski, who have long controlled Bulgarian institutions.
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