Since 2020, Bulgaria has been mired in political instability, mainly due to corruption and cronyism. This unrest recently caused Prime Minister Boyko Borisov to resign after mass protests.
In this election, the GERB party of Prime Minister Borisov again appears to be a major contender, although finding stable coalition partners will likely remain difficult afterward. Meanwhile, support is growing for the far-right Vazrazhdane party, which holds an ultranationalist and pro-Russian stance.
The Bulgarian political landscape remains divided by the tension between pro-Western and pro-Russian sentiments, resulting in a fragmented electorate. While GERB and Vazrazhdane could potentially form a coalition, the influence of external geopolitical factors also plays a role.
Vazrazhdane, led by pro-Russian businessman Kostadin Kostadinov, recently achieved success with the introduction of a law banning LGBTQ promotion, similar to comparable Russian legislation. This hard stance on cultural and migration issues has earned the party additional voter support.
Election observers fear that Bulgaria could head in the same direction as Georgia and earlier Slovakia, where Moscow-friendly parties opposed a strongly pro-EU course.
Bulgaria has been a member of the European Union since 2007, but political instability and suspected close ties between corrupt politicians and dubious businessmen create many obstacles to European integration. Only 34 percent of voters turned out in the last elections.
This apathy among the population makes it difficult for politicians to build trust and implement long-awaited reforms, including the transition to the euro. Bulgaria originally intended to join the eurozone next year, but this process has been delayed by political instability. There are also still reservations among EU countries about allowing Bulgaria into the Schengen area of passport-free travel.