SOFIA -- Partial official results show that Bulgaria's center-right GERB party is poised to win the country’s parliamentary elections, but without enough support to break a prolonged political stalemate.
SEE ALSO: Will The Latest Elections End Bulgaria's Political Deadlock?The pro-Western GERB party took 26.15 percent of the vote held on October 27, according to a Central Election Commission tally of nearly 90 percent of voting districts.
The reformist PP (We Continue The Change) was in second with 15.14 percent and the far-right, pro-Russia Revival Party had 13.7 percent, according to the partial results published on October 28.
Six other parties passed the 4 percent threshold needed for parliamentary representation, including one pro-Russia party that will enter parliament for the first time.
The results, based on low voter turnout, show GERB will fall short of a parliamentary majority, paving the way for complicated negotiations to form a coalition government.
Bulgaria has been unable to establish a stable government since large-scale anti-corruption protests brought down former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov’s cabinet in 2020. Since then, six elections have failed to break the stalemate.
GERB previously announced that Borisov would be its candidate for prime minister if it secures at least 80 out of 240 seats in parliament.
But PP has said it would not support Borisov for the position and has demanded an independent prime minister with strong anti-corruption credentials.
In addition to the Revival Party, two of the parties on track to enter parliament are seen as being pro-Russia.
Greatness, which was in the previous parliament, took 4.08 percent of the vote. Morality, Unity, Honor (MECH) – whose abbreviation in Bulgarian means “Sword” -- took 4.65 percent of the vote.
MECH, which will enter parliament for the first time after a surprising showing, casts itself as "pro-Bulgarian, patriotic, and nationally responsible."
Upon its formation in October 2023, MECH chief Radostin Vassilev said that the party’s policies would be similar to those of Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban.
While Hungary is a member of the European Union, Orban opposes many of the bloc’s positions and maintains close relations with Moscow.