2021 Bulgarian general election

Summary

General elections were held in Bulgaria on 14 November 2021 to elect both the President and the National Assembly.[1][2] They were the country's third parliamentary elections in 2021, with no party able to form a government after the elections in April and July.[3][4] A second round of the presidential elections were held on 21 November 2021 as no candidate was able to receive a majority of the vote in the first round.[5][6]

2021 Bulgarian general election

Presidential election
← 2016 14 November 2021 (2021-11-14) (first round)
21 November 2021 (2021-11-21) (second round)
2026 →
Turnout38.64% (Decrease17.64pp) first round
33.65% (Decrease16.79pp) second round
 
Nominee Rumen Radev Anastas Gerdzhikov
Party Independent Independent
Alliance BSPzB, PP, ITN, IBG-NI GERBSDS
Running mate Iliana Iotova Nevyana Miteva
Popular vote 1,539,650 733,791
Percentage 66.72% 31.80%


President before election

Rumen Radev
Independent

Elected President

Rumen Radev
Independent

Parliamentary election
← July 2021 14 November 2021 (2021-11-14) 2022 →

All 240 seats in the National Assembly
121 seats needed for a majority
Turnout38.43% (Decrease1.96pp)
Party Leader % Seats +/–
PP K. Petkov & A. Vasilev 25.32 67 New
GERBSDS Boyko Borisov 22.44 59 −4
DPS Mustafa Karadayi 12.83 34 +5
BSPzB Korneliya Ninova 10.07 26 −10
ITN Slavi Trifonov 9.39 25 −40
DB A. Atanasov & H. Ivanov 6.28 16 −18
Revival Kostadin Kostadinov 4.80 13 +13
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after
Stefan Yanev Stefan Yanev (caretaker)
Independent
Kiril Petkov
PP
Kiril Petkov

We Continue the Change won the most seats, although it was not a majority. Shortly after the election, they announced that coalition talks were going to be held.[7] Incumbent president Rumen Radev gathered 66.72% of the vote, defeating university professor Anastas Gerdzhikov in a runoff.[8]

Nationwide turnout in the parliamentary and first presidential round fell to 38% Bulgaria's lowest participation rate in 30 years for both presidential and legislative elections.[9] Nationwide turnout in the second presidential round experienced another drop, featuring only 33% of registered voters.[10]

The leaders of PP, BSP, ITN, and DB announced on 10 December that they had agreed to form a coalition that would end a months-long political crisis. President Radev shortly after announced that he had given the mandate to form a government to Petkov.[11] On 12 December, Kiril Petkov presented the composition of the incoming government, and it was approved on 13 December by the National Assembly.[12]

Background edit

The previous parliamentary election which was held in July 2021, resulted in a narrow victory for the newly established There Is Such A People (ITN) over the ruling GERB party;[13] however, ITN won only 65 out of 240 seats in the National Assembly of Bulgaria.[13] Following the elections, ITN opted to try and form a minority government and started talks with potential partners (DB, IBG-NI, and BSP) in order to secure their support. Nevertheless, these attempts proved unsuccessful, and ITN announced on 10 August that they were withdrawing their proposed cabinet, making a third election more likely.[14][15] Slavi Trifonov, the leader of ITN, said in a video statement that this meant new elections.[14][15] The mandate to form a cabinet went to GERB.[15][16]

GERB, the party of the previous prime minister Boyko Borisov, said earlier that it would not try to form a government.[17] The BSP said that if the scenario repeats itself, it would suggest that the incumbent caretaker cabinet becomes permanent. IBG-NI also expressed confidence that it could come up with a solution if handed the mandate to form a government.[15] Trifonov subsequently announced that he would not support any other parties proposing a cabinet.[18] Parliament announced on 2 September that Bulgaria would hold the first round of the presidential election on 14 November, with a snap election likely to take place in the same month.[6][5]

On 6 September 2021, BSP handed back the last mandate of forming a government, meaning the parliament would be dissolved and a third parliamentary election would officially take place in 2021.[19] President Rumen Radev declared on 11 September that there would be two-in-one elections on 14 November for the first time in Bulgarian history, where voters would be able to vote on the president and the parliament. This decision was taken "to save treasury costs and voters' time".[1]

Electoral system edit

The 240 members of the National Assembly are elected by open list proportional representation from 31 multi-member constituencies ranging in size from 4 to 16 seats. The electoral threshold is 4% for parties, with seats allocated according to the largest remainder method.[20][21]

The President of Bulgaria is elected using the two-round system,[22] with voters also given a none of the above option.[23]

Parties and coalitions edit

Parliamentary parties edit

Party Main ideology Leader(s) Current seats
ITN Populism Slavi Trifonov
65
GERBSDS Conservatism Boyko Borisov
63
BSPzB Social democracy Korneliya Ninova
36
DB Liberalism Hristo Ivanov
34
DPS Turkish minority interests Mustafa Karadayi
29
IBG-NI Populism Maya Manolova
13

Parties admitted to the elections edit

When only some of the leaders of a coalition are its official representatives, their names are in bold. All lines with a light grey background indicate support for a party or coalition that has been agreed upon outside of the official CEC electoral registration.

Name Main ideology Leader(s) July 2021 result
Votes
(%)
Seats
RVO Revival of the Fatherland 2 Left-wing nationalism Nikolay Malinov 0.37%
(LSChSR)
0 / 240
NS New Force Bulgarian nationalism Atanas Sirakov
NDLO National Movement for a Left Unification Socialism Boyan Durankev
Marian Dimitrov
Timur Glozhenski
LA Left Alternative Socialism Ivan Atanasov
Patriotic Front NFSB National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria 4 Bulgarian nationalism Valeri Simeonov 3.10%
(BP)
0 / 240
BDSR Bulgarian Democratic Union "Radicals" Conservatism Tsvetan Manchev
BNDS Entire Bulgaria Agrarianism Georgi Valchev
Revival Revival 5 Ultranationalism Kostadin Kostadinov 2.97%
0 / 240
NOD KOD Conservative Union of the Right 7 Conservatism Petar Moskov 0.28%
0 / 240
BZNS Bulgarian Agrarian National Union Agrarianism Nikolay Nenchev
BDF Bulgarian Democratic Forum Bulgarian nationalism Zhaklin Toleva
RzB Republicans for Bulgaria Conservatism Tsvetan Tsvetanov 0.31%
BSDD Bulgarian Union for Direct Democracy 8 Direct democracy Georgi Nedelchev
0 / 240
BSDE Bulgarian Social Democratic PartyEuroLeft 10 Social democracy Aleksandar Tomov
0 / 240
Ataka Attack 11 Bulgarian nationalism Volen Siderov 0.45%
0 / 240
ONB Society for a New Bulgaria 13 Bulgarian nationalism Kalin Krulev
0 / 240
GN People's Voice 14 Populism Svetoslav Vitkov 0.17%
0 / 240
DPS Movement for Rights and Freedoms 17 Turkish minority interests Mustafa Karadayi 10.57%
29 / 240
Pravoto Rights, Reforms, Alternative, Opportunities,
Responsibility, Tolerance and Unity
20 Populism Maria Koleva
0 / 240
VMRO–BND VMRO – Bulgarian National Movement 21 National conservatism Krasimir Karakachanov 3.10%
(BP)
0 / 240
BNO Bulgarian National Unification 22 Bulgarian nationalism Georgi Georgiev-Goti
0 / 240
Volya Volya Movement 23 Right-wing populism Veselin Mareshki 3.10%
(BP)
0 / 240
ITN There Is Such a People 24 Populism Slavi Trifonov 23.78%
65 / 240
We Continue
the Change
PP We Continue the Change 25 Anti-corruption Kiril Petkov New
0 / 240
Volt Volt Bulgaria European federalism Nastimir Ananiev
SEC Middle European Class Pro-Europeanism Georgi Manev
PDS Political Movement "Social Democrats" Social democracy Elena Noneva
MIR Morality, Initiative and Patriotism 26 Conservatism Simeon Slavchev 0.12%
0 / 240
BOG Prosperity-Unification-Building 27 Nationalism Ivan Gaberov
0 / 240
BNS–ND Bulgarian National Union – New Democracy 28 Anti-immigration Boris Ivanov
Bogdan Yotsov
0.17%
0 / 240
PD Direct Democracy 29 Direct democracy Petar Klisarov 0.11%
0 / 240
Democratic
Bulgaria
DB Yes, Bulgaria! 30 Liberalism Hristo Ivanov 9.31%
27 / 240
DSB Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria Conservative liberalism Atanas Atanasov
ZD Green Movement Green politics Borislav Sandov
Vladislav Panev
DEN Dignity of a United People Liberalism Naiden Zelenogorski
Stand Up.BG!
We are coming!
D21 Movement 21 31 Social democracy Tatyana Doncheva 4.95%
13 / 240
DBG Bulgaria for Citizens Movement Liberal conservatism Dimitar Delchev
ENP United People's Party Liberalism Valentina Vasileva-Filadelfevs
ZNS Agrarian People's Union Agrarianism Rumen Yonchev
IS.BG Stand Up.BG Anti-corruption Maya Manolova
OT Poisonous Trio and Citizens Direct democracy Nikolay Hadjigenov
GERB – SDS GERB GERB 32 Conservatism Boyko Borisov 23.21%
63 / 240
SDS Union of Democratic Forces Conservatism Rumen Hristov
DG George's Day Movement Conservatism Dragomir Stefanov
BSP for
Bulgaria
BSP Bulgarian Socialist Party 33 Social democracy Korneliya Ninova 14.78%
43 / 240
NZ New Dawn Left-wing nationalism Mincho Minchev
CPB Communist Party of Bulgaria Communism Aleksandar Paunov
Ecoglasnost Green politics Emil Georgiev
Trakiya Trakiya Political Club Bulgarian nationalism Stefan Nachev
ABV Alternative for Bulgarian Revival Social democracy Rumen Petkov
BL Bulgarian Left Democratic socialism Boyan Kirov
BP Bulgarian Spring Social democracy Velizar Enchev
DSH Movement for Social Humanism Progressivism Alexander Radoslavov
DNK Movement of Independent Candidates Left-wing populism Boyko Mladenov
Boyko Nikiforov
Mincho Kuminev
Ognyan Boyukliev
NS People's Force Left-wing nationalism Georgi Dimov
ND Normal State Georgi Kadiev
OKZNI All-People's Committee for the Protection of National Interests
SENKO Council of the European Scientific and Cultural Community
SO Union for the Fatherland Vasil Tochkov
FPB Federation of Consumers in Bulgaria Consumer interests Emil Georgiev
ND ZSCD For Social and Civic Development Mladen Ivanov
NSZ National Syndicate "Protection" Krasimir Mitov
OBT United Bloc of Labour Social democracy Ekaterina Atanasova
BPL Bulgarian Progressive Line 34 Democratic socialism Krassimir Yankov 0.37%
(LSChSR)
0 / 240
Greens Green Party 35 Green politics Vladimir Nikolov 0.12%
0 / 240
Brigada Brigade 36 Arben Khavalyov 0.08%
0 / 240

Presidential candidates edit

Candidates admitted to the elections edit

Name Running mate Parties or coalitions supporting the campaign Sources
Yolo Denev
Politician and writer
Mario Filev 1 [24]
Nikolay Malinov
Chairman of the party Russophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland
Svetlana Koseva Russophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland 2 [24]
Rosen Milenov
Former national security officer
Ivan Ivanov 3 [24]
Valeri Simeonov
Chairman of the party National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria
Tsvetan Mancev NFSB, BNDS "Whole Bulgaria", Bulgarian Democratic Union "Radicals" 4 [24]
Kostadin Kostadinov
Chairman of the party Revival
Elena Guncheva Revival 5 [24]
Rumen Radev
Incumbent President of Bulgaria
Iliana Iotova
ITN, BSPzB, PP, IBG-NI 6 [24]
Goran Blagoev
Politician and journalist
Ivelina Georgieva Conservative Association of the Right and Republicans for Bulgaria 7 [24]
Blagoy Petrevski
Politician
Sevina Hadjiyska Bulgarian Union for Direct Democracy 8 [24]
Marina Malcheva
Politician
Savina Lukanova 9 [24]
Aleksander Tomov
Chairman of the Bulgarian Social Democratic Party
Lachezar Avramov. Bulgarian Social Democratic PartyBulgarian Euro-Left 10 [24]
Volen Siderov
Chairman of the party Attack
Magdalena Tasheva Attack 11 [24]
Boyan Rasate
Chairman of the party Bulgarian National Union – New Democracy
Elena Vatashka BNU-ND 12 [24]
Zhelyo Zhelev
Politician
Kalin Krulev Society for a New Bulgaria 13 [24]
Anastas Gerdzhikov
Rector of Sofia University
Nevyana Miteva GERBSDS 14 [24]
Svetoslav Vitkov
Chairman of the party People's Voice
Veselin Belokonski People's Voice 15 [24]
Luna Yordanova
Singer and television personality
Iglena Ilieva 16 [24]
Mustafa Karadaya
Chairman of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms
Iskra Mihaylova DPS 17 [24]
Tsveta Kirilova
Journalist and television presenter
Georgi Tatunov 18 [24]
Lozan Panov
Chairman of the Supreme Court of Cassation of Bulgaria
Maria Kasimova Justice for All Initiative and DB 19 [24]
Maria Koleva
Director and writer
Gancho Popov Law Party 20 [24]
Milen Mihov
Vice chairman of the party VMRO – Bulgarian National Movement
Mariya Tsvetkova. VMRO 21 [24]
Georgi Georgiev
Politician
Stoyan Tsvetkov BNO 22 [24]
Veselin Mareshki
Chairman of the party Volya Movement
Polina Tsankova Volya Movement 23 [24]

Campaign edit

The campaign started after the election was officially announced for 14 November. The pandemic remained a large issue, especially with the rise of the Delta variant in the country.[25] The anti-corruption parties (ITN, DB, and IBG-NI) were all looking to hold their ground, while the established parties (GERB, DPS, and BSP) wanted to capitalise on public frustrations with the inability to form a government. The elections were widely hoped to bring an end to the political stalemate that had lasted since the April 2021 elections, after which no government could be formed. This time, there was more pressure on the anti-establishment parties to start negotiating a coalition government after the elections.[26]

After the president announced the new caretaker cabinet,[27] the economy and finance ministers who were replaced in the reshuffle, Kiril Petkov and Asen Vasilev, announced that they would compete in the November election as part of a new coalition named We Continue the Change,[28] with the aim of becoming a new anti-corruption force that could form an effective government.

The global energy crisis was a large issue in the campaign, with natural gas prices soaring to record highs.[29] Campaigning parties offered varying solutions to address this, with some supporting more reliance on Russia for energy, while others proposed domestic nuclear power in the longer term. The campaign was also influenced by the high levels of inflation in the country, which hit record levels at 4.8% in September,[30] causing public dissatisfaction.

Another important issue was COVID-19 vaccinations. Due to a low vaccine take-up and high rises in the number of cases, the caretaker government implemented a "green pass", also known as the vaccine passport.[31] The green pass required citizens to provide proof of their vaccination status in several locations such as hospitals, schools and restaurants. The measure was met with widespread protests.[32]

On 6 October, the instructions of the Minister of Health and the Chief State Health Inspector for voting were approved, and did not differ from those for the elections on 11 July. Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission, Rositsa Mateva, said "there is no requirement for a green certificate for voting in the parliamentary and presidential elections on 14 November."[33]

Bulgaria's Central Election Commission accepted the registration of 23 candidates for the presidential elections, announced after the deadline for applications on 12 October. This was the largest number of candidates in a presidential election in Bulgaria since the country began direct democratic elections for its head of state; previously, the highest number was 21, which occurred in 1992 and 2016.[34]

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) announced in a statement that it would send an observation team to the general elections, following an invitation from the authorities of Bulgaria. It noted that the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) had previously observed 12 elections in the country, most recently the 11 July 2021 early parliamentary elections.[35]

Opinion polls edit

Legislative election edit

Graphical representation of recalculated data

The opinion poll results below were recalculated from the original data and exclude polls that chose "I will not vote" or "I am uncertain" options.

Polling firm Fieldwork date Sample Turnout range[a] Certain undecided turnout ITN GERBSDS BSP DB DPS IBG-NI VMRO Revival PP Others None of the above Lead
November 2021 election 14 November 2021 9.5% 22.7% 10.2% 6.4% 13.0% 2.3% 1.1% 4.9% 25.7% 4.2% 1.4% 2.8%
Gallup Exit-Poll 9.3% 23.1% 10.4% 6.4% 11.4% 3.0% 1.1% 5.0% 26.3% 3.6% 3.2%
Alpha Research Exit-Poll 9.6% 23.2% 10.9% 6.5% 10.7% 2.6% 1.1% 4.8% 26.3% 1.8% 3.1%
Alpha Research 7−9 Nov 2021 1017 [47%-73%] 9.9% 24.1% 16% 10.2% 9.8% 3.6% 3.8% 16.5% 6.1% 7.6%
Barometar 4−9 Nov 2021 839 [43.3%–61.7%] 13.4% 26.4% 15.8% 8.1% 11.4% 2.9% 3.7% 1.5% 11.2% 5.5% 10.6%
Gallup 1−9 Nov 2021 1006 ~48% 11.4% 23.5% 15.2% 9.6% 11.3% 3.4% 2.1% 3.5% 15.5% 4.5% 8%
Centre for Analysis and Marketing 4−8 Nov 2021 1016 [66.9%-86.1%] 13.5% 12.2% 23.5% 14.6% 11% 10.3% 4.2% 16.2% 8% 7.3%
Mediana 4–8 Nov 2021 957 12.2% 25.4% 15.6% 9.7% 10.6% 4.2% 3.1% 17.3% 1.9% 8.1%
Trend 1–7 Nov 2021 1013 45% 12.8% 22.9% 15.1% 9.1% 10.3% 3.3% 2.2% 3.6% 14.8% 5.9% 7.8%
Market Links 2−7 Nov 2021 1112 [58%–90%] 4.5% 9.7% 23% 12.1% 10.5% 11.2% 4.1% 1.2% 3% 16.3% 1.2% 8.9% 6.7%
Exacta 29 Oct−5 Nov 2021 1025 [65%-66%] [8%-9%] 12.5% 23.8% 15% 9.2% 9.5% 3.5% 2.5% 3% 15.5% 3.7% 1.8% 8.3%
Sova Harris 27 Oct−2 Nov 2021 1000 [52.4%–85.8%] 13.4% 23.8% 16.7% 9.1% 9.7% 4.1% 2.1% 2.5% 15.6% 1.9% 1.1% 7.1%
Sociology Web Researcher 1 Oct−1 Nov 2021 43,987 48% 19.3% 22.1% 16.6% 8.5% 10.3% 2.9% 2.1% 3.3% 10.1% 4.8% 2.8%
Gallup 23−31 Oct 2021 1081 [58.2%–78.2%] ~15.6%
odds
11.3% 24.2% 15.7% 9.8% 11.1% 3.1% 2.3% 3.3% 13.7% 5.5% 6.1%-
8.5%
Estat 23−31 Oct 2021 993 [58%-84.2%] 15.2% 24.1% 18.1% 7.4% 9.2% 3.3% 2.3% 3.3% 14.3% 2.8% 6%
Centre for Analysis and Marketing 22−26 Oct 2021 815 [69.1%-82.1%] 16.4% 12.3% 22.3% 15.1% 11.8% 10.3% 3.2% 1.2% 2.5% 15.8% 3% 0.3% 6.5%
Barometar 13−18 Oct 2021 858 [42.2%–61.5%] 14.3% 26.2% 14.9% 8.8% 11.6% 2.9% 3.7% 1.5% 10.5% 5.5% 11.3%
Gallup 10−17 Oct 2021 1009 [54.2%–74.2%] 12.2% 22.5% 15.1% 11.2% 10.8% 3.7% 2.3% 2.9% 13.4% 5.9% 7.4%
Exacta 6−12 Oct 2021 1025 49% 12% 15.2% 23.5% 15% 10.2% 9.4% 2.6% 2.5% 1.9% 15.5% 4.2% 8%
Sova Harris 5−12 Oct 2021 1010 [55.2%–87.1%] 14.4% 24.2% 19.1% 9% 8.7% 4.2% 1.8% 1.9% 14.6% 0.4% 1.7% 5.1%
Centre for Analysis and Marketing 6−10 Oct 2021 812 11.7% 24.2% 15.8% 10.3% 11% 3.2% 0.7% 1.7% 12.8% 3.7% 0.7% 8.4%
Alpha Research 4−10 Oct 2021 1123 47.6% 10.6% 10.4% 23.1% 16.8% 10.9% 9.3% 3.2% 2.1% 2.9% 15.9% 5.4% 6.3%
Sociology Web Researcher 1 Sep−1 Oct 2021 86,376 56% 4.7% 22.9% 24.3% 14.1% 6.9% 7.1% 2.8% 1.8% 3.2% 7.8% 4.4% 1.4%
Gallup 21−26 Sep 2021 2000 [50.6%–73.2%] 12.3% 21.4% 13.4% 12.1% 11.4% 4.1% 2.2% 3.3% 15.2% 4.6% 6.2%
Market Links 14−20 Sep 2021 1076 [57%–90%] 5.4% 14.9% 25% 16% 13.1% 10.8% 3.6% 3.5% 11.9% 1.1% 9%
Barometar 12−16 Sep 2021 810 [35.4%–55.9%] 15.1% 25.6% 13.2% 9.2% 11.9% 3.2% 3.8% 3% 15% 10.5%
Trend 8–15 Sep 2021 1012 53% 17.5% 24.4% 16.6% 8.5% 9.3% 3.8% 2.2% 2.9% 9.1% 5.7% 6.9%
Alpha Research 8−15 Sep 2021 1017 51.7% 4.6% 18.6% 23.2% 18.1% 14.5% 10.5% 4.5% 3.8% 6.8% 4.6%
Gallup 2−10 Sep 2021 1007 [47.1%–70.9%] 15.5% 22.5% 16.1% 15.8% 11.9% 4.8% 2.4% 3.1% 7.9% 6.4%
Market Links 13−22 Aug 2021 1055 [52%–90%] 4.5% 17.2% 23.7% 17.2% 18.1% 12% 4.9% 4.7% 2.2% 5.6%
Trend 23–30 Jul 2021 1006 21.6% 22.4% 14.5% 14.1% 10.2% 4.4% 1.9% 2.9% 8% 0.8%
Market Links 21–28 Jul 2021 1059 [48%–88%] 4.1% 22.6% 19.8% 17.9% 17.2% 9.6% 5.4% 2.1%[b] 3.7% 1.4% 2.8%
July 2021 election 11 July 2021 40.4% 23.8% 23.2% 13.2% 12.5% 10.6% 5% 3.1%[b] 3% 4.4% 1.3% 0.6%

Presidential election edit

Graphical representation of recalculated data
First round

The opinion poll results below were recalculated from the original data and exclude polls that chose "I will not vote" or "I am uncertain" options.

Polling firm Fieldwork date Sample Turnout range[c] Certain undecided turnout
            Others None of the above Lead
Radev
Ind.[d]
Gerdzhikov
Ind.[e]
Karadayi
DPS
Panov
Ind.[f]
Kostadinov
Revival
Simeonov
PF
Siderov
Attack
Mihov
VMRO
Mareshki
Volya
Yordanova
Ind.
November 2021 election 14 November 2021 49.4% 22.8% 11.5% 3.7% 3.9% 0.3% 0.6% 0.5% 0.4% 0.8% 4.4% 2.3% 26.6%
Alpha Research Exit-Poll 50.1% 23.8% 9.6% 3.5% 4.1% 0.4% 0.8% 0.5% 0.5% 0.8% 2.2% 2.0% 26.3%
Gallup Exit-Poll 50.0% 24.0% 9.1% 3.5% 4.1% 0.6% 0.6% 0.4% 0.9% 4.5% 2.4% 26.0%
Alpha Research 7−9 Nov 2021 1017 [47%-73%] 46.4% 28.3% 8.8% 6.9% 3.2% 6.4% 18.1%
Exacta 6−9 Nov 2021 1025 [47%-48%] [8%-9%] 48.0% 27.9% 9.0% 6.8% 2.4% 2.3% 3.2% 0.4% 20.1%
Barometar 4−9 Nov 2021 839 [50.5%–63.4%] 44.6% 27.3% 11.4% 6.4% 2.1% 3.1% 5.2% 17.3%
Gallup 1−9 Nov 2021 1006 ~48% 48.6% 25.3% 9.1% 5.2% 3.0% 1.5% 1.1% 4.1% 2.1% 23.3%
Centre for Analysis and Marketing 4−8 Nov 2021 1016 [66.9%-80.9%] 14.6% 48.2% 22.8% 9.1% 7.3% 2.0% 1.1% 9.5% 25.4%
Mediana 4–8 Nov 2021 957 48.3% 25.6% 10.3% 8.1% 3.2% 1.4% 3.1% 22.7%
Trend 1–7 Nov 2021 1013 43% 46.8% 24.4% 9.9% 6.4% 3.1% 1.6% 1.0% 6.8% 22.4%
Market Links 2−7 Nov 2021 1112 [58%–90%] 2.8% 46.7% 25.6% 10.3% 7.7% 2.6% 1.3% 0.9% 4.9% 21.1%
Exacta 29 Oct−5 Nov 2021 1025 [66%-67%] [8%-9%] 48.0% 27.1% 7.5% 7.0% 2.2% 0.7% 1.5% 4.1% 1.9% 20.9%
Sova Harris 27 Oct−2 Nov 2021 1000 [52.4%–85.8%] 56.2% 23.5% 7.1% 6.8% 6.4% 32.7%
Gallup 23−31 Oct 2021 1081 [57.1%–77.1%] 47.6% 25.1% 8.5% 5.7% 3.3% 1.4% 1.1% 4.8% 2.5% 22.5%
Estat 23−31 Oct 2021 993 [54.7%-84.5%] 49.7% 27.3% 5.4% 8.3% 3.2% 0.4% 1.0% 1.4% 0.5% 0.8% 2% 22.4%
Centre for Analysis and Marketing 22−26 Oct 2021 815 [70.6%-83.1%] 17.4% 47.5% 21.8% 8.6% 6.2% 1.7% 0.8% 4.6% 0.5% 26.7%
Barometar 13−18 Oct 2021 858 [54%-65.5%] 44.8% 27.3% 11.2% 6.8% 1.9% 3.0% 4.9% 17.5%
Gallup 10−17 Oct 2021 1009 56.4% 51.2% 22.5% 7.9% 6.2% 3.1% 1.6% 1.1% 3.7% 2.7% 28.7%
Sova Harris 5−12 Oct 2021 1010 [55.2%–87.1%] 60.4% 24.8% 6.1% 5.3% 3.4% 35.6%
Centre for Analysis and Marketing 6−10 Oct 2021 812 <50% 49.5% 22.3% 9.1% 7.5% 1.7% 0.7% 1% 4.9% 27.3%
Alpha Research 4−10 Oct 2021 1123 52.7% 11.3% 42.6% 28.1% 8.7% 8.2% 3.9% 1.8% 1.6% 3.9% 14.5%
2016 election 6 November 2016 56.3% 25.4% 11.2% 57.8% 5.6% 3.4%
Hypothetical second round
Polling Firm Fieldwork
Date
Sample  Radev   Gerdzhikov Panov Lead
November 2021 election 21 November 2021 66.7% 31.8% 34.9%
Alpha Research Exit-Poll 63.9% 33.1% 30.8%
Gallup Exit-Poll 65.8% 31.4% 34.4%
Mediana 4–8 Nov 2021 957 65.5% 35.5% 30%
Exacta 29 Oct−5 Nov 2021 1025 63.5% 36.5% 27%
Sova Harris 27 Oct−2 Nov 2021 1000 67% 33% 34%
Estat 23–31 Oct 2021 490 62.2% 37.8% 24.4%
Sova Harris 5–12 Oct 2021 1010 70.6% 29.4% 41.2%
86.7% 13.3% 73.4%
2016 election 13 November 2016 59.4% 23.2%

Results edit

Polling stations opened at 08:00 and closed at 20:00.[36] Kiril Petkov and Asen Vasilev were viewed as the winners of the legislative elections.[37] Their party (We Continue the Change) received more than 25% of the vote. GERB remained second with more than 22%. DPS finished third place with over 13%, overtaking BSP, who finished fourth with around 10%. There Is Such a People, the winner of the previous election, was seen as the election loser, dropping to fifth with less than 10% of the vote. Democratic Bulgaria also dropped significantly in support, losing over 50% of their voters from the previous election and receiving only around 6% of the vote. Lastly, Revival managed to enter the parliament with around 5% of the votes, running on a campaign of Bulgarian nationalism and opposition to vaccine mandates. Stand Up BG! We're coming! lost all their seats in the parliament, receiving only 2%, whilst VMRO did not succeed in entering parliament.[38]

We Continue the Change won the most votes in 14 districts of the country, including all three in the capital, Sofia. They also won in major cities such as Burgas, Varna and Plovdiv. GERB—SDS won in 12 districts, including Sofia-Oblast, Gabrovo, and Blagoevgrad. DPS was first in five districts in Kardzhali and Razgrad, as well as in Targovishte, Silistra, and Shumen. The results of the overseas vote differed from those in the country, as DPS received the most votes abroad with over 38% support. In second place abroad was We Continue the Change with over 22 percent. There Is Such a People, which was helped by the votes abroad, finished third, and GERB—SDS came fourth.[38]

Incumbent president Radev received around 49% of the vote and was forced into a runoff against university professor Gerdzhikov on 21 November.[39] Shortly after the second round of the presidential elections, President Radev was projected to win another term with nearly two-thirds of the vote, according to exit polls published by Alpha Research and Gallup International.[40] Voter turnout stood at a record-low 33.7% and 3.0% of people who went to the polls did not support either of the two candidates, according to Alpha Research polling agency.[41]

President edit

CandidateRunning matePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Rumen RadevIliana IotovaIndependent (BSPzB, PP, ITN, IBG-NI)1,322,38549.421,539,65066.72
Anastas GerdzhikovNevyana MitevaIndependent (GERBSDS)610,86222.83733,79131.80
Mustafa KaradayiIskra MihaylovaMovement for Rights and Freedoms309,68111.57
Kostadin KostadinovElena GunchevaRevival104,8323.92
Lozan PanovMaria KasimovaIndependent (Democratic Bulgaria)98,4883.68
Luna YordanovaIglena IlievaIndependent21,7330.81
Volen SiderovMagdalena TashevaAttack14,7920.55
Svetoslav VitkovVeselin BelokonskiPeople's Voice13,9720.52
Milen MihovMariya TsvetkovaVMRO – Bulgarian National Movement13,3760.50
Rosen MilenovIvan IvanovIndependent12,6440.47
Goran BlagoevIvelina GeorgievaRepublicans for Bulgaria12,3230.46
Veselin MareshkiPolina TsankovaVolya Movement10,5360.39
Valeri SimeonovTsvetan ManchevPatriotic Front8,5680.32
Nikolay MalinovSvetlana KosevaRussophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland8,2130.31
Tsveta KirilovaGeorgi TutanovIndependent7,7060.29
Aleksandar TomovLachezar AvramovBulgarian Social Democratic PartyEuroLeft7,2350.27
Boyan RasateElena VatashkaBulgarian National Union – New Democracy6,7980.25
Marina MalchevaSavina LukanovaIndependent6,3150.24
Zhelyo ZhelevKalin KrulevSociety for a New Bulgaria6,1540.23
Blagoy PetrevskiSevina HadjiyskaBulgarian Union for Direct Democracy5,5180.21
Yolo DenevMario FilevIndependent5,3940.20
Maria KolevaGancho PopovPravoto4,6660.17
Georgi Georgiev-GotiStoyan TsvetkovBulgarian National Unification2,9580.11
None of the above60,7862.2734,1691.48
Total2,675,935100.002,307,610100.00
Valid votes2,675,93599.652,307,61099.83
Invalid/blank votes9,4870.353,9090.17
Total votes2,685,422100.002,311,519100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,949,93838.646,868,73733.65
Source: Electoral Commission of Bulgaria (first round), Electoral Commission of Bulgaria (second round)

National Assembly edit

 
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
We Continue the Change673,17025.3267New
GERBSDS596,45622.4459–4
Movement for Rights and Freedoms341,00012.8334+5
BSP for Bulgaria267,81710.0726–10
There Is Such a People249,7439.3925–40
Democratic Bulgaria166,9686.2816–18
Revival127,5684.8013+13
Stand Up.BG! We are coming!60,0552.260–13
VMRO – Bulgarian National Movement28,3221.0700
Bulgarian Social Democratic PartyEuroLeft13,7100.5200
Attack12,1530.4600
Society for a New Bulgaria11,6270.440New
People's Voice11,5460.4300
National Union of the Right11,2390.4200
Patriotic Front8,5840.3200
Volya Movement7,0670.2700
Russophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland6,8030.2600
Pravoto6,7120.250New
Bulgarian Union for Direct Democracy5,8940.220New
Morality, Initiative and Patriotism3,9390.1500
Green Party2,9680.1100
Bulgarian National Unification2,4680.0900
Prosperity-Unification-Building1,7230.060New
Bulgarian Progressive Line1,4980.0600
Direct Democracy1,3410.0500
Brigade1,1510.0400
Bulgarian National Union – New Democracy1,0990.0400
Independents1820.0100
None of the above35,7451.34
Total2,658,548100.002400
Valid votes2,658,54899.58
Invalid/blank votes11,3150.42
Total votes2,669,863100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,946,85238.43
Source: Electoral Commission of Bulgaria

Voter Demographics edit

Gallup exit polling suggested the following demographic breakdown. The parties which got below 4% of the vote are included in 'Others':

Voter Demographics[42]
Social group % PP % GERB % DPS % BSP % ITN % DB % Revival % Others % Lead
Exit Poll Result 25 24 10 14 8 7 4 8 1
Final Result 25 22 13 10 9 6 5 9 3
Gender
Men 23 24 10 13 8 7 5 10 1
Women 26 23 9 14 7 7 4 10 3
Age
18–30 28 16 11 5 13 12 5 10 12
30-60 26 25 9 9 9 8 5 9 1
60+ 21 24 10 29 3 4 3 6 5
Highest Level of Education
Lower Education 6 13 42 20 4 2 4 9 22
Secondary Education 21 25 10 16 9 5 4 10 4
Higher Education 32 24 3 11 8 10 4 8 8
Ethnic Group
Bulgarian 28 25 1 15 9 8 5 9 3
Turkish 5 10 73 3 1 1 2 5 63
Roma 6 13 38 16 4 1 4 18 22
Location
Towns and Villages 13 22 31 14 5 3 4 8 9
Smaller Cities 21 26 9 19 9 4 5 7 5
Larger Cities 32 22 2 13 9 7 5 10 10
Sofia 32 24 1 10 6 14 4 9 8



Voter Demographics[42]
Social group % Radev % Gerdzhikov % Karadayi % Panov % Kostadinov % Yordanova % Others % Lead
Exit Poll Result 50 25 10 4 4 1 6 25
Final Result 49 23 12 4 4 1 7 26
Gender
Men 48 25 11 4 4 2 6 23
Women 50 25 8 4 4 1 8 25
Age
18–30 46 17 11 7 5 3 11 29
30-60 47 27 8 5 5 1 7 20
60+ 57 25 9 1 3 0 5 32
Highest Level of Education
Lower Education 34 12 40 1 3 2 8 6
Secondary Education 49 24 10 3 4 1 9 25
Higher Education 53 27 3 8 4 1 4 26
Ethnic Group
Bulgarian 54 27 1 5 5 1 7 27
Turkish 9 14 69 1 1 1 5 53
Roma 32 11 34 1 4 5 13 2
Location
Towns and Villages 40 20 31 1 3 1 4 9
Smaller Cities 53 25 8 2 4 1 7 28
Larger Cities 54 26 2 4 5 1 8 10
Sofia 46 30 1 10 5 1 7 16
By Political Party
PP 80 9 0 4 1 1 5 71
GERB 10 83 1 1 1 1 3 73
DPS 3 6 90 0 0 1 1 84
BSP 93 1 0 0 2 0 4 91
ITN 78 9 0 3 2 1 7 69
DB 38 14 0 36 2 1 9 2
Revival 21 5 0 1 66 0 7 45
IBGNI 86 0 0 5 0 1 8 81
VMRO 25 26 1 4 7 3 34 1
Others/None 35 13 2 3 4 3 41 22

By constituency edit

Constituency PP GERBSDS DPS BSPzB ITN DB Revival Others
Blagoevgrad 19.9% 26.9% 16.7% 9.8% 10.5% 4.4% 2.9% 8.9%
Burgas 26.2% 23.1% 14.3% 9.5% 9.0% 4.8% 5.2% 7.9%
Varna 29.1% 26.6% 4.6% 8.9% 10.7% 5.8% 6.7% 7.6%
Veliko Tarnovo 25.3% 21.2% 8.7% 15.4% 10.9% 4.8% 5.5% 8.2%
Vidin 20.6% 28.0% 6.3% 15.0% 11.7% 5.7% 3.4% 9.3%
Vratsa 22.7% 27.4% 8.6% 12.0% 11.0% 3.7% 3.9% 10.7%
Gabrovo 27.4% 29.9% 4.5% 10.4% 9.6% 3.9% 6.0% 8.3%
Dobrich 25.5% 20.2% 10.8% 14.5% 10.1% 4.2% 5.2% 9.5%
Kardzhali 7.0% 10.5% 68.1% 4.4% 3.9% 1.6% 1.1% 3.4%
Kyustendil 24.7% 31.7% 1.5% 13.4% 10.5% 3.4% 4.4% 10.4%
Lovech 22.4% 27.8% 8.1% 14.1% 10.6% 3.9% 4.6% 8.5%
Montana 23.0% 20.7% 18.5% 12.5% 10.5% 3.0% 3.7% 8.1%
Pazardzhik 21.4% 26.5% 13.1% 13.1% 9.9% 3.7% 4.1% 8.2%
Pernik 24.3% 32.9% 1.6% 12.2% 10.5% 4.4% 4.6% 9.5%
Pleven 23.7% 21.6% 6.0% 16.2% 14.9% 3.5% 4.2% 9.9%
Plovdiv-city 33.2% 25.4% 1.6% 9.3% 9.9% 7.4% 6.4% 6.8%
Plovdiv-province 22.6% 26.7% 8.0% 14.9% 10.3% 3.5% 5.0% 9.0%
Razgrad 10.7% 17.6% 44.4% 6.6% 5.7% 7.2% 2.3% 5.5%
Ruse 29.5% 21.3% 8.1% 11.1% 11.9% 4.2% 5.6% 8.3%
Silistra 17.2% 24.2% 28.2% 8.9% 7.8% 2.4% 2.8% 8.5%
Sliven 25.8% 26.7% 5.7% 12.0% 10.2% 4.1% 4.9% 10.6%
Smolyan 19.9% 24.8% 21.2% 12.4% 9.1% 3.7% 2.4% 6.5%
Sofia-city 23 36.6% 21.5% 0.5% 8.6% 5.9% 15.6% 4.6% 6.7%
Sofia-city 24 33.4% 24.0% 0.5% 8.4% 6.9% 14.6% 5.1% 7.1%
Sofia-city 25 32.1% 26.1% 0.6% 9.4% 8.3% 9.7% 5.8% 8.0%
Sofia-province 23.4% 28.7% 5.7% 13.3% 10.4% 4.3% 4.2% 10.0%
Stara Zagora 27.5% 23.0% 6.7% 12.7% 11.4% 4.2% 6.2% 8.3%
Targovishte 14.2% 16.9% 37.8% 10.9% 7.7% 2.8% 2.9% 6.8%
Haskovo 25.9% 22.5% 16.8% 10.3% 9.3% 3.6% 4.5% 7.1%
Shumen 20.0% 22.8% 24.7% 9.9% 8.7% 2.7% 3.8% 7.4%
Yambol 25.7% 24.0% 1.6% 19.8% 9.9% 4.1% 5.8% 9.1%
Bulgarian nationals abroad 22.4% 7.3% 39.2% 2.3% 11.0% 7.9% 6.2% 3.7%
Source: [1]

Aftermath edit

Following the DB coalition's poor results in the elections, Hristo Ivanov and the entire party leadership of Yes, Bulgaria! announced their resignations on 15 November.[43] Korneliya Ninova, the leader of BSP, also resigned after her party's "catastrophic" result, winning only 26 seats and falling to fourth place.[44] However, both were reaffirmed as party leaders by early February 2022.

Following the PP victory, Petkov told reporters after initial results were released that "Bulgaria is taking a new path. If we can stop [corruption] and redistribute money for the well-being of the taxpayers, then we should be able to come to an agreement with several parties." Petkov said he was willing to work with all parties that would join the fight against corruption in Bulgaria.[45] He announced he was seeking to become prime minister and said he wanted to pursue "transparent" coalition negotiations with DB and There Is Such a People.[46] DPS and GERB rejected coalition talks with PP.[47] Analysts such as Boryana Dimitrova and Parvan Simeonov predicted that PP, ITN, DB, and BSP would form a coalition.[48]

Shortly after exit polls projected that President Radev had won another term with nearly two-thirds of the vote, he commented in a statement that "an unprecedented political month of two types of elections ended, which clearly showed the will of the people to change and to break with corruption, robbery and lawlessness, to remove the mafia from power."[49] PP co-leaders Kiril Petkov and Assen Vassilev congratulated Radev on his re-election victory: "We are ready to work with this president," Petkov said at a briefing after the end of election day. Vassilev commented that: "Next week we are beginning work on developing a clear and precise plan on how to make Bulgaria a much better place to live in the coming 4 years".[50]

A series of talks on 18 policy areas were held between 23 November and 27 November, between the representatives of PP, BSP, ITN, and DB.[51]

The leaders of four Bulgarian parties on 10 December said they had agreed to form a coalition that would end a months-long political crisis, making it the first regular government since April. The agreement followed lengthy talks between PP, DB, ITN and BSP. Kiril Petkov announced, "we are moving towards proposing a stable government, which we hope will continue for the next four years."[52] Shortly later, President Radev announced that he had given the mandate to form a government to Petkov.[11] On 12 December, Petkov presented the composition of the incoming government, and it was approved by the National Assembly on 13 December 2021.[12]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Minimum and maximum values.
  2. ^ a b Result of Bulgarian Patriots
  3. ^ Minimum and maximum values.
  4. ^ Supported by BSP for Bulgaria, ITN, PP, Stand Up.BG, Volt Bulgaria, ABV, Movement 21, SSD, OBT and PDS
  5. ^ Supported by GERB, SDS, BZNS and DG
  6. ^ Supported by Democratic Bulgaria

References edit

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