Bulgaria’s Borissov Vows To Form Cabinet As Deadlock Remains

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(Bloomberg) – Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov has vowed to form a government after winning Sunday’s election, as he lacks the majority needed to break the political deadlock.

His party Gerb won 26.3% of the instant vote on Sunday, according to a sample of 99% of the votes by Alpha Research pollster. This election was the seventh in Bulgaria in less than four years.

Borissov’s main rival, the anti-corruption coalition led by former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, came second with 14.4%. The Nationalist Revival Party, which has reiterated the Kremlin’s talking points and wants Bulgaria out of NATO, took 13.3%. Because of these close margins, the runner-up may change as the first official results come in the next few hours.

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Bulgaria has been in crisis since 2021, when anti-annexation protests ended Borissov’s political rule after more than a decade. Since then, a series of interim authorities, both elected and caretaker, have ruled the EU’s poorest country. They have had to deal with the power crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine while trying to keep Bulgaria on track to adopt the euro.

“We are committed to forming a government,” Borissov told reporters in Sofia on Sunday night. His chances of success are “100%, as of today,” he added.

That’s easier said than done. Many parties have repeatedly refused to cooperate with Borissov, leaving him with limited options to return to office despite a string of election wins.

“Two parties are enough” for the ruling majority, Boryana Dimitrova, managing partner at Alpha Research, told BNT. “They will have to look for the third one. The question is which one,” as some groups “are not compatible in principle,” he said.

Eight divisions will enter parliament according to Alpha’s research. Another small anti-establishment group may join them when the final results are released.

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Borissov vowed on Sunday to cooperate with everyone except Revival because of differences of opinion. However, frustration with mainstream parties has increased the success of Revival – the number of voters has increased fourfold since 2021.

A series of inconclusive elections has alienated voters. Although voters on Sunday did not reach the minimum level, only 37.5% voted, according to the poll.

Borissov will be the first to receive the mandate to form a government from President Rumen Radev. If Gerb fails to get support, the mandate will be given to the second largest party.

If that fails, Radev – a NATO-trained general known to stand up to Russia – will have to invite another party to form a government before he is forced to call new elections. Analysts have ruled out another parliamentary election next year.

(Updates with Borissov’s comments starting in the first paragraph, corresponding vote counting from the second.)

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