Analysis briefly:
- Bulgarians will elect their parliament from 2021 for the eighth time.
- The next election will be held on Sunday 19 April 2026. A full of 24 groups participate in the parliamentary competition.
- Among the most crucial topics of the run are issues of state corruption and abroad policy.
- The Progressive Bulgaria coalition has the best chance of winning.
On Sunday, 19 April, the Republic of Bulgaria will hold another early parliamentary election. The Bulgarians will elect their political representatives for the eighth time in the last 5 years. As of 2021, this country has been in a continuous political crisis due to the fact that subsequent groups are incapable to cooperate with each another in the parliamentary coalition for a long time.
Characteristics of the Bulgarian Parliament
The legislative power in Bulgaria is exercised by a single-cameral parliament – the National Assembly. Its composition is 240 deputies. The word of office of the elected parliament shall be 4 years. It may be shortened if no agreement is reached on the creation of a government after 3 attempts as foreseen by the Bulgarian Constitution. It is precisely in the last 5 years that, due to the comparatively large political polarity and the deficiency of agreement between the various groups, further decisions have been made on the early dissolution of Parliament. In accordance with Bulgarian law, the National Assembly has legislative power and functions of parliamentary control. In addition, it performs creative functions.
Election strategy in the Bulgarian parliamentary elections
Parliamentary elections shall be carried out on the basis of universal, equal and direct electoral law and by secret ballot. A proportionate electoral strategy was adopted at the same time. In line with the legal regulations, 31 multiple electoral districts are created to carry out parliamentary elections. The electoral threshold is 4% for both parties and election coalitions. Bulgarian electoral law besides explicitly indicates that the Hare-Niemmeyer method is utilized to find the number of individual groups of mandates.
Date of upcoming parliamentary elections in Bulgaria
President of the Republic of Bulgaria Iliana Iotova in accordance with his prerogative announcedthat parliamentary elections will take place on 19 April 2026 (Sunday). For this reason, the electoral run formally began on 20 March and will proceed until 17 April. On 18 April and 19 April until 20 p.m., the election silence will prevail.
Groups in the upcoming parliamentary elections
14 parties and 10 coalitions participate in the election competition for seats in the Bulgarian legislative body. The most crucial groups include the GERB-SDS Coalition (Citizens for the European improvement of Bulgaria – Union of Democratic Forces), the PP-DB Coalition (Continued Changes – Democratic Bulgaria), the Progressive Bulgaria Coalition, the Movement for Rights and Freedom Party, the Alliance for Rights and Freedom Coalition, the Revival Party, the BSP-OL Coalition (Bulgarian Socialist organization – United Left).
Key electoral demands
The fight against corruption is among the most crucial and most common promises in the campaign. This is actually 1 of her central themes. It should be stressed that according to Corruption Perception Index Transparency International, Bulgaria is simply a European Union country with the worst consequence in terms of the level of this phenomenon. Among the groups that emphasize the willingness to carry out reforms in this area is the PP-DB coalition, which she presented. Protocol on combating corruption. In general, although already little consistently, their demands and proposals in the area of combating corruption besides present almost all another groups.
The direction of abroad policy is besides an crucial run issue. This issue is increasingly crucial in the electoral campaigns of most European countries. GERB-SDS and PP-DB propose a pro-western and pro-EU orientation in global policy. A more average attitude, but inactive oriented towards the west, is presented by the Movement for Rights and Freedom. Progressive Bulgaria, in turn, retains any distance. In turn, the neutral position seeks to occupy BSP-OL, while the Revival is simply a nationalist party, critical of the EU and NATO, and liable for rapprochement with Russia.
Trends in election polls
According to the polls, the Progressive Bulgaria coalition, whose unofficial leader is Rumen Radev, is presently the most popular. He was the erstwhile president of the Republic of Bulgaria who resigned in January of that year, wanting to take part in the parliamentary elections to then apply for the position of Prime Minister. He held his function for 9 years, so he personally experienced the situation of the deep instability of governments and the deficiency of parliamentary cooperation.
The polls indicate that Progressive Bulgaria can anticipate an average of about 30% of support. It is followed by the GERB-SDS coalition, which notes indications of an average of 20% of support. It is headed by Boyko Borisov, who has already served as head of government respective times. The PP-DB coalition and the Movement for Rights and Freedom organization can support the level of around 10%. Rebirth organization and BSP-OL coalition besides have the chance to enter parliament according to the polls. However, according to the polling preferences survey, the second balances at the electoral threshold.
Background and background to parliamentary elections
The upcoming elections to the National Assembly are being held following another early resolution of this body over the last fewer years. The erstwhile election was held in late October 2024, which was won by the GERB-SDS coalition. Parliament was heavy fragmented, but yet it was possible to form a government under Rosen Żelakow. At the turn of November and December, thousands of demonstrations and protests against the authorities and the political situation were held in Sofia. As a result, the Prime Minister resigned on 11 December. In January 2026, then president Radev reportedthat elections will be re-announced after failed attempts to establish further governments.
From 2021 the Bulgarians will go to the polling stations for the eighth time, which means that parliamentary election in this country takes place on average erstwhile all six months. This country is in a constant crisis of government. The subsequent elected compositions of Parliament over fresh years have been marked by a considerable fragmentation. At the same time, groups have emerged far more critical of the current model of power-making, which has only increased the problems of creating unchangeable parliamentary majority.
