site.btaSix Parties, Coalitions Would Enter Next Parliament if Elections Were Held Monday - Survey

A survey by the polling agency Sova Harris, published on Monday, shows that six parties and coalitions would enter Bulgaria's Parliament if elections were held on this day. These are Progressive Bulgaria, GERB-UDF, Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning, Vazrazhdane, and BSP – United Left.

The survey was conducted between March 7 and 12 among 1,000 adult Bulgarians using face-to-face interviews at respondents’ homes. The maximum statistical error is ±3.1% at a 50% share and a 95% confidence level. The survey was commissioned by the Trud daily.

Parties failing to cross the threshold include MECh with 3.8%, the Siyanie [Radiance] Coalition with 2.9%, Velichie with 2.5%, and There Is Such a People with 2.2%. The Alliance for Rights and Freedoms receives just under 2% support. Other parties collectively receive 6.2% of the vote among respondents who declared they would vote.

According to Sova Harris, voter turnout would be around 55%, representing just under three million Bulgarian adults. About 2.5 million say they have decided who to vote for, while some one million remain undecided.

Former president Rumen Radev holds the highest trust rating among politicians at 48.8%, followed by President Iliana Iotova at 42.9%. Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov receives 25.5% trust, the survey shows.

Among party leaders, Kostadin Kostadinov leads with 16.4% trust, followed by Boyko Borissov at 14.2% and Krum Zarkov at 13.8%. Krasimir Karakachanov receives 12.5%, Maya Manolova 12.3%, Radostin Vasilev 10.7%, Ivaylo Mirchev 10.6%, Assen Vassilev 10.3%, Stefan Yanev 10.3%, Bozhidar Bozhanov 7.9%, Slavi Trifonov 7.8%, Rumen Hristov 7.3%, Korneliya Ninova 7.2%, Atanas Atanassov 6.2%, Petar Moskov 5.4%, Ivelin Mihaylov 4.7%, Delyan Peevski 2.3%, and Ahmed Dogan 2.3%. 

The survey indicates that just 18.8% of respondents trust the government, 12.3% trust the prosecution service, and 10.8% trust the courts. Trust in the National Assembly stands at just 5.2%. About 34.7% believe the caretaker government will ensure fair elections, 30.7% disagree, and 34.6% are undecided.

As to expectations for the April 19 snap elections, 24.6% of respondents believe it will result in a stable government, while 42.1% expect the opposite. The remaining 33.3% are undecided.

The Central Election Commission has announced that 24 political entities will participate in the April 19 elections.