Der Linken geht es gut, die Rechte zerbröckelt und eine neue nationalistische Kraft ist bei den bulgarischen Wahlen aus dem Nichts aufgetaucht. Polia Alexandrova berichtet in Transitions Online.
The left-wing Coalition for Bulgaria easily beat all other challengers in the parliamentary elections on 25 June, but fell short of a majority and must now look for partners among the seven parties and coalitions, a new record, that will enter the new parliament.
According to the latest official results the Coalition for Bulgaria, led by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), won 31 percent of the vote, while the former Bulgarian King
Simeon Saxecoburggotski’s National Movement Simeon II (NDSV) garnered just 19.9 percent. Third, achieving the best result in its history, came the ethnic Turkish Movement for Freedoms and Rights (DPS) at 12.8 percent.
After voting the former king into power in 2001, Bulgarians again showed their liking for exotic parties, casting enough votes – 8.1 percent – for the radical nationalist coalition Ataka (Attack) to allow the new party to enter parliament as the fourth-largest power.
Three coalitions and parties will form the right wing of the parliament: the United Democratic Forces coalition (ODS) with 7.7 percent of the vote, former prime minister Ivan Kostov’s Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB) with 6.4 percent, and the Bulgarian National Union with 5.2 percent.
Turnout reached 56 percent, according to the Central Election Commission, about 10 points lower than pollsters had forecast and the lowest in Bulgaria’s post-communist history, said Tsvetozar Tomov of the Skala agency. According to official data about 1.2 million fewer people exercised their right to vote in this country of 8 million than during the last general elections in 2001.
To read the article in full, visit the Transitions Online website.