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Bulgarian snap elections

October 5, 2014

Bulgarian voters are going to the polls in an election that surveys show are likely to see the center-right party of ex-premier Boyko Borisov win the most votes. Forming a parliamentary coalition could be a challenge.

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A man casts his ballot at a polling station during the general election in Sofia on October 5, 2014. NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV/AFP/Getty Images
Image: AFP/Getty Images/N. Doychinov

Bulgarians voted on Sunday in a snap parliamentary election that is expected to see former prime minister Boyko Borisov's conservative GERB party emerge as the biggest vote winner.

Surveys conducted by all polling agencies have shown GERB winning up to 36 percent of the vote - still short of a majority - with the rival Socialist Party (BSP) lagging far behind on 21 percent.

Observers say, however, that the 55-year-old Borisov could have problems forming a coalition government. The last elections just 17 months ago, called after Borisov resigned amid violent protests over rises in electricity prices, also saw GERB win the most seats, but it failed to find a partner with which to govern.

The result was an unstable, BSP-led government that lasted just over a year.

Kingmakers?

Some smaller parties at Sunday's election may clear the 4-percent hurdle required to enter parliament, and they could be called upon as possible kingmakers. The votes of those that fail to make the 4-percent grade will be given to those that succeeded in proportion to their result, meaning that the winner will receive most of these "lost" votes.

Bulgaria, which has a population of 7.3 million people, is the poorest nation in the European Union, and has been struggling with a severe banking crisis and other economic troubles fueled by rampant corruption. Widespread disillusionment with politicians is likely to result in a low turnout.

Voting ends at 7 pm local time (1600 UTC), and exit poll results are expected a short time later.

tj/ipj (dpa, AP)