For the sixth time in three years, Bulgarians will vote on June 9 in parliamentary elections as the poverty- and corruption-stricken Balkan country seeks to end the long stretch of political instability and, perhaps, close the door on hopes for major reforms.
The vote could return populist former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov to power. Polls show that his GERB party and its United Democratic Forces partner will receive the most votes with 25 percent.
Borisov has led three governments over the past decade, but his support has weakened amid allegations of corruption, links to oligarchs, and attacks on media freedom.
GERB's erstwhile partner in the outgoing coalition government, the reformist We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria coalition (PP-DB), is seen as getting about 15 percent, down from the 24.6 percent last time, as many supporters may desert the party because of its previous partnering with GERB.
A woman walks past campaign posters for Bulgaria's center-right GERB party in Sofia on June 7.
PP-DB had agreed to work with its GERB rivals on a common pro-EU platform of ensuring that Bulgaria supports Ukraine's battle against the Russian invasion, but disagreements between leaders of the two parties mean a renewed coalition government appears unlikely.
Among the reasons for the breakup of the PP-DB-GERB partnership has been the PP-DB demand for reforms in the judiciary and in the security services, alleging that they have provided cover for organized crime and that they have not done enough to counter Russian influence.
GERB generally says it supports reforms but has not initiated specific changes in the judiciary or among security agencies.
GERB has been supported by Delyan Peevski -- leader of the Movement For Rights And Freedoms (DPS) -- who has been hit by sanctions for corruption by the United States under the global Magnitsky Act. The pro-Ukrainian former media mogul is reportedly one of the richest people in Bulgaria.
PP-DB has claimed that GERB and DPS act as one party. "Anytime we had a meeting with Borisov, Peevski was already in the room," former PP-DB Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said.
GERB could turn to the MRF Turkish minority party, which also has about 15 percent in the polls.
The pro-Russian Revival party (Vazrazhdane) also has support.
SEE ALSO: Pro-Kremlin Forces On Rise In Bulgaria Ahead Of European ElectionsIf Borisov is unable to cobble together a government, another election -- the seventh in three years -- is likely, observers say.
A Bulgarian caretaker government led by Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev was sworn in by parliament on April 9 after being appointed by President Rumen Radev, who also announced the snap general elections for June 9.
Following elections in April last year, Bulgaria had a joint government supported by the pro-Western, reformist PP-DB and Borisov's GERB. They had agreed on an 18-month government with a rotation of prime ministers -- first Denkov from PP-DB and, after nine months, Maria Gabriel from GERB.
Denkov stepped down on March 5 to let GERB lead the government for the following nine months, as agreed. But Gabriel failed to form a government, and on March 27 Denkov also rejected Radev's invitation to try to put together a cabinet.
On March 28, the populist There Is Such a People (ITN) party also declined to attempt to form a government, thus setting up the June 9 election.
The vote is being held alongside EU elections.
Between June 6 and June 9, voters in all 27 EU member states are going to the polls to elect 720 members of the European Parliament.
The elections are held every five years, and each country is allotted a certain number of members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in direct proportion to its population size.
Voters elect national parties, but after the elections, the MEPs organize into political groups in the European Parliament that align with their parties' political ideologies.
Opinion polls heading into the elections for the European Parliament put the coalition of two center-right parties, GERB and the Union of Democratic Forces, in first place.