2021 Bulgarian general election

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2021 Bulgarian general election
Flag of Bulgaria.svg
Presidential election
  2016 14 November 2021 (2021-11-14) (first round)
21 November 2021 (2021-11-21) (second round)
2026  
Turnout40.47% (first round) Decrease2.svg15.81pp
34.85% (second round) Decrease2.svg15.59pp
 
Rumen Radev official portrait (cropped).jpg
Anastas Gerdzhikov (cropped).jpg
Nominee Rumen Radev Anastas Gerdzhikov
Party Independent Independent
Alliance GERBSDS
Running mate Iliana Iotova Nevyana Miteva
Popular vote1,539,650733,791
Percentage66.72%31.80%

November 2021 Bulgarian presidential election first round Results.svg
November 2021 Bulgarian presidential election second round Results.svg

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
Turnout40.04% (Decrease2.svg 1.59pp)
PartyLeaderVote %Seats+/–
PP K. Petkov & A. Vasilev 25.3267New
GERBSDS Boyko Borisov 22.4459−4
DPS Mustafa Karadayi 12.8334+5
BSPzB Korneliya Ninova 10.0726−10
ITN Slavi Trifonov 9.3925−40
DB A. Atanasov & H. Ivanov 6.2816−18
Revival Kostadin Kostadinov 4.8013+13
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
November 2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election - Combined Results.svg
November 2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election - Vote Strength.svg
November 2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election - Results.svg
Prime Minister beforePrime Minister after
Stefan Yanev (caretaker)
Independent
(Second Yanev Government)
Kiril Petkov
PP
(Petkov Government)

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]

Contents

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 40%, 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 35% 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

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

The 240 members of the National Assembly were 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

Parliamentary parties

PartyMain ideologyLeader(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

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.

NameMain ideologyLeader(s) July 2021 result
Votes
(%)
Seats
RVORevival of the Fatherland2 Left-wing nationalism Nikolay Malinov0.37%
(LSChSR)
0 / 240
NSNew Force Bulgarian nationalism Atanas Sirakov
NDLONational Movement for a Left Unification Socialism Boyan Durankev
Marian Dimitrov
Timur Glozhenski
LALeft Alternative Socialism Ivan Atanasov
Patriotic Front NFSB National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria 4 Bulgarian nationalism Valeri Simeonov 3.10%
(BP)
0 / 240
BDSRBulgarian Democratic Union "Radicals" Conservatism Tsvetan Manchev
BNDSEntire Bulgaria Agrarianism Georgi Valchev
Revival Revival 5 Ultranationalism Kostadin Kostadinov 2.97%
0 / 240
NODKOD Conservative Union of the Right 7 Conservatism Petar Moskov 0.28%
0 / 240
BZNS Bulgarian Agrarian National Union Agrarianism Nikolay Nenchev
BDFBulgarian Democratic Forum Bulgarian nationalism Zhaklin Toleva
RzB Republicans for Bulgaria Conservatism Tsvetan Tsvetanov 0.31%
BSDDBulgarian Union for Direct Democracy8 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
ONBSociety for a New Bulgaria13 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
PravotoRights, 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
MIRMorality, Initiative and Patriotism26 Conservatism Simeon Slavchev 0.12%
0 / 240
BOGProsperity-Unification-Building27 Nationalism Ivan Gaberov
0 / 240
BNS–ND Bulgarian National Union – New Democracy 28 Anti-immigration Boris Ivanov
Bogdan Yotsov
0.17%
0 / 240
PDDirect Democracy29 Direct democracy Petar Klisarov0.11%
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
DENDignity 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
OTPoisonous Trio and Citizens Direct democracy Nikolay Hadjigenov
GERB – SDSGERB 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
NZNew Dawn Left-wing nationalism Mincho Minchev
CPB Communist Party of Bulgaria Communism Aleksandar Paunov
Ecoglasnost Green politics Emil Georgiev
TrakiyaTrakiya Political Club Bulgarian nationalism Stefan Nachev
ABV Alternative for Bulgarian Revival Social democracy Rumen Petkov
BL Bulgarian Left Democratic socialism Boyan Kirov
BPBulgarian Spring Social democracy Velizar Enchev
DSH Movement for Social Humanism Progressivism Alexander Radoslavov
DNKMovement of Independent Candidates Left-wing populism Boyko Mladenov
Boyko Nikiforov
Mincho Kuminev
Ognyan Boyukliev
NSPeople's Force Left-wing nationalism Georgi Dimov
NDNormal StateGeorgi Kadiev
OKZNIAll-People's Committee for the Protection of National Interests
SENKOCouncil of the European Scientific and Cultural Community
SOUnion for the FatherlandVasil Tochkov
FPBFederation of Consumers in Bulgaria Consumer interests Emil Georgiev
ND ZSCDFor Social and Civic DevelopmentMladen Ivanov
NSZNational Syndicate "Protection"Krasimir Mitov
OBTUnited Bloc of Labour Social democracy Ekaterina Atanasova
BPL Bulgarian Progressive Line 34 Democratic socialism Krassimir Yankov0.37%
(LSChSR)
0 / 240
Greens Green Party 35 Green politics Vladimir Nikolov0.12%
0 / 240
BrigadaBrigade36Arben Khavalyov0.08%
0 / 240

Presidential candidates

Candidates admitted to the elections

NameRunning mateParties or coalitions supporting the campaignSources
Yolo Denev
Politician and writer
Mario Filev1 [24]
Nikolay Malinov
Chairman of the party Russophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland
Svetlana KosevaRussophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland2 [24]
Rosen Milenov
Former national security officer
Ivan Ivanov3 [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 GeorgievaConservative Association of the Right and Republicans for Bulgaria 7 [24]
Blagoy Petrevski
Politician
Sevina HadjiyskaBulgarian Union for Direct Democracy8 [24]
Marina Malcheva
Politician
Savina Lukanova9 [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 KrulevSociety for a New Bulgaria13 [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 Ilieva16 [24]
Mustafa Karadaya
Chairman of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms
Iskra Mihaylova DPS 17 [24]
Tsveta Kirilova
Journalist and television presenter
Georgi Tutanov18 [24]
Lozan Panov
Chairman of the Supreme Court of Cassation of Bulgaria
Maria KasimovaJustice for All Initiative and DB 19 [24]
Maria Koleva
Director and writer
Gancho PopovLaw Party20 [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

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

Legislative election

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 firmFieldwork dateSampleTurnout range [a] Certain undecided turnout ITN GERBSDS BSP DB DPS IBG-NI VMRO Revival PP Others None of the above Lead
November 2021 election14 November 20219.5%22.7%10.2%6.4%13.0%2.3%1.1%4.9%25.7%4.2%1.4%2.8%
Gallup Exit-Poll9.3%23.1%10.4%6.4%11.4%3.0%1.1%5.0%26.3%3.6%3.2%
Alpha Research Exit-Poll9.6%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 20211017[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 2021839[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 20211006~48%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 20211016[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 202195712.2%25.4%15.6%9.7%10.6%4.2%3.1%17.3%1.9%8.1%
Trend 1–7 Nov 2021101345%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 20211112[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 20211025[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 20211000[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 202143,98748%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 20211081[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 2021993[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 2021815[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 2021858[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 20211009[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 2021102549%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 20211010[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 202181211.7%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 2021112347.6%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 202186,37656%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 20212000[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 20211076[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 2021810[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 2021101253%17.5%24.4%16.6%8.5%9.3%3.8%2.2%2.9%9.1%5.7%6.9%
Alpha Research8−15 Sep 2021101751.7%4.6%18.6%23.2%18.1%14.5%10.5%4.5%3.8%6.8%4.6%
Gallup 2−10 Sep 20211007[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 20211055[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 2021100621.6%22.4%14.5%14.1%10.2%4.4%1.9%2.9%8%0.8%
Market Links 21–28 Jul 20211059[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 202140.4%23.8%23.2%13.2%12.5%10.6%5%3.1% [b] 3%4.4%1.3%0.6%

Presidential election

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 firmFieldwork dateSampleTurnout range [c] Certain undecided turnout
Rumen Radev official portrait (cropped).jpg Anastas Gerdzhikov (cropped).jpg Mustafa Karadaiy.jpg Kostadin Kostadinov snimka.jpg Valeri Simeonov 2017-11-15 (cropped).jpg Volen Siderov ATAKA.jpg 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 election14 November 202149.4%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-Poll50.1%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-Poll50.0%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 20211017[47%-73%]46.4%28.3%8.8%6.9%3.2%6.4%18.1%
Exacta 6−9 Nov 20211025[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 2021839[50.5%–63.4%]44.6%27.3%11.4%6.4%2.1%3.1%5.2%17.3%
Gallup 1−9 Nov 20211006~48%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 20211016[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 202195748.3%25.6%10.3%8.1%3.2%1.4%3.1%22.7%
Trend 1–7 Nov 2021101343%46.8%24.4%9.9%6.4%3.1%1.6%1.0%6.8%22.4%
Market Links 2−7 Nov 20211112[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 20211025[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 20211000[52.4%–85.8%]56.2%23.5%7.1%6.8%6.4%32.7%
Gallup 23−31 Oct 20211081[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 2021993[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 2021815[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 2021858[54%-65.5%]44.8%27.3%11.2%6.8%1.9%3.0%4.9%17.5%
Gallup 10−17 Oct 2021100956.4%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 20211010[55.2%–87.1%]60.4%24.8%6.1%5.3%3.4%35.6%
Centre for Analysis and Marketing 6−10 Oct 2021812<50%49.5%22.3%9.1%7.5%1.7%0.7%1%4.9%27.3%
Alpha Research 4−10 Oct 2021112352.7%11.3%42.6%28.1%8.7%8.2%3.9%1.8%1.6%3.9%14.5%
2016 election 6 November 201656.3%25.4%11.2%57.8%5.6%3.4%
Hypothetical second round
Polling FirmFieldwork
Date
Sample Rumen Radev official portrait (cropped).jpg Radev Anastas Gerdzhikov (cropped).jpg Gerdzhikov Panov Lead
November 2021 election21 November 202166.7%31.8%34.9%
Alpha Research Exit-Poll63.9%33.1%30.8%
Gallup Exit-Poll65.8%31.4%34.4%
Mediana 4–8 Nov 202195765.5%35.5%30%
Exacta 29 Oct−5 Nov 2021102563.5%36.5%27%
Sova Harris 27 Oct−2 Nov 2021100067%33%34%
Estat 23–31 Oct 202149062.2%37.8%24.4%
Sova Harris 5–12 Oct 2021101070.6%29.4%41.2%
86.7%13.3%73.4%
2016 election 13 November 201659.4%23.2%

Results

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

CandidateRunning matePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Rumen Radev Iliana Iotova Independent (BSPzB, PP, ITN, IBG-NI)1,322,38549.421,539,65066.72
Anastas Gerdzhikov Nevyana Miteva Independent (GERBSDS)610,86222.83733,79131.80
Mustafa Karadayi Iskra Mihaylova Movement for Rights and Freedoms 309,68111.57
Kostadin Kostadinov Elena Guncheva Revival 104,8323.92
Lozan Panov Maria Kasimova Independent (Democratic Bulgaria)98,4883.68
Luna YordanovaIglena IlievaIndependent21,7330.81
Volen Siderov Magdalena Tasheva Attack 14,7920.55
Svetoslav Vitkov Veselin Belokonski People's Voice 13,9720.52
Milen Mihov Mariya Tsvetkova VMRO – Bulgarian National Movement 13,3760.50
Rosen MilenovIvan IvanovIndependent12,6440.47
Goran BlagoevIvelina Georgieva Republicans for Bulgaria 12,3230.46
Veselin Mareshki Polina Tsankova Volya Movement 10,5360.39
Valeri Simeonov Tsvetan Manchev Patriotic Front 8,5680.32
Nikolay Malinov Svetlana Koseva Russophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland 8,2130.31
Tsveta KirilovaGeorgi TutanovIndependent7,7060.29
Aleksandar Tomov Lachezar Avramov Bulgarian Social Democratic PartyEuroLeft 7,2350.27
Boyan Rasate Elena Vatashka Bulgarian National Union – New Democracy 6,7980.25
Marina MalchevaSavina LukanovaIndependent6,3150.24
Zhelyo ZhelevKalin Krulev Society for a New Bulgaria 6,1540.23
Blagoy PetrevskiSevina Hadjiyska Bulgarian Union for Direct Democracy 5,5180.21
Yolo DenevMario FilevIndependent5,3940.20
Maria Koleva Gancho Popov Pravoto 4,6660.17
Georgi Georgiev-Goti Stoyan Tsvetkov Bulgarian National Unification 2,9580.11
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/turnout6,667,89540.276,672,93534.64
Source: Electoral Commission of Bulgaria (first round), Electoral Commission of Bulgaria (second round)

National Assembly

Bulgaria National Assembly November 2021.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
We Continue the Change 673,17025.3267New
GERBSDS 596,45622.4459–4
Movement for Rights and Freedoms 341,00012.8334+5
BSP for Bulgaria 267,81710.0726–10
There Is Such a People 249,7439.3925–40
Democratic Bulgaria 166,9686.2816–18
Revival 127,5684.8013+13
Stand Up.BG! We are coming! 60,0552.260–13
VMRO – Bulgarian National Movement 28,3221.0700
Bulgarian Social Democratic PartyEuroLeft 13,7100.5200
Attack 12,1530.4600
Society for a New Bulgaria  [ bg ]11,6270.440New
People's Voice 11,5460.4300
National Union of the Right  [ bg ]11,2390.4200
Patriotic Front 8,5840.3200
Volya Movement 7,0670.2700
Russophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland 6,8030.2600
Pravoto  [ bg ]6,7120.250New
Bulgarian Union for Direct Democracy  [ bg ]5,8940.220New
Morality, Initiative and Patriotism  [ bg ]3,9390.1500
Green Party 2,9680.1100
Bulgarian National Unification 2,4680.0900
Prosperity-Unification-Building 1,7230.060New
Bulgarian Progressive Line 1,4980.0600
Direct Democracy  [ bg ]1,3410.0500
Brigade  [ bg ]1,1510.0400
Bulgarian National Union – New Democracy 1,0990.0400
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/turnout6,667,89540.04
Source: Electoral Commission of Bulgaria

Voter Demographics

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 Result2524101487481
Final Result2522131096593
Gender
Men23241013875101
Women2623914774103
Age
18–302816115131251012
30-6026259998591
60+2124102934365
Highest Level of Education
Lower Education6134220424922
Secondary Education21251016954104
Higher Education3224311810488
Ethnic Group
Bulgarian282511598593
Turkish510733112563
Roma61338164141822
Location
Towns and Villages1322311453489
Smaller Cities212691994575
Larger Cities32222139751010
Sofia3224110614498



Voter Demographics [42]
Social group % Radev  % Gerdzhikov  % Karadayi  % Panov  % Kostadinov  % Yordanova  % Others % Lead
Exit Poll Result502510441625
Final Result492312441726
Gender
Men482511442623
Women50258441825
Age
18–304617117531129
30-6047278551720
60+57259130532
Highest Level of Education
Lower Education34124013286
Secondary Education492410341925
Higher Education53273841426
Ethnic Group
Bulgarian54271551727
Turkish91469111553
Roma321134145132
Location
Towns and Villages40203113149
Smaller Cities53258241728
Larger Cities54262451810
Sofia463011051716
By Political Party
PP8090411571
GERB10831111373
DPS3690001184
BSP9310020491
ITN7890321769
DB38140362192
Revival21501660745
IBGNI8600501881
VMRO25261473341
Others/None351323434122

By constituency

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 abroad22.4%7.3%39.2%2.3%11.0%7.9%6.2%3.7%
Source:

Aftermath

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

Notes

  1. Minimum and maximum values.
  2. 1 2 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

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