Conservatives lead in Bulgaria's sixth vote in three years

Hardly a third of Bulgarians voted in the Balkan E.U. member’s sixth parliamentary elections in three years on June 9, with the party of conservative former premier Boyko Borisov coming in first, but more political uncertainty looming.

Hardly a third of Bulgarians voted in the Balkan E.U. member's sixth parliamentary elections in three years on June 9, with the party of conservative former premier Boyko Borisov coming in first, but more political uncertainty looming.

Analysts said the worst political instability the E.U.'s poorest member has experienced since the end of communism was unlikely to end.

Mr. Borisov's GERB party topped the vote, winning almost 25%, according to projections published by polling institutes late June 9 on the basis of a partial count.

But it is likely to continue to struggle to find partners to govern after massive anti-corruption protests in 2020 ended Mr. Borisov's almost decade-long rule.

Reformist grouping PP-DB slumped to between 14% and 15% — down from the almost 25% they got in the last snap polls last year.

The continuing instability threatens to further delay reforms necessary to unlock E.U. funding and integrate the country fully into the Schengen area of free movement — and to frustrate voters further.

"Let's hope that politicians will find a possibility to avoid holding a new vote in the fall, which is the most likely outcome right now," said Kancho Stoichev, an analyst with Gallup.