Day of reflection ahead of 19 April parliamentary elections

Today in Bulgaria is the official day of reflection ahead of the early parliamentary elections. Campaigning is not allowed, and no new opinion polls can be published, so voters can make up their minds without outside influence.

Bulgarians will go to the polls on 19 April after yet another political crisis, which led to the resignation of Rosen Zhelyazkov’s government in December 2025, following mass protests across the country. This will be the seventh early election since 2021.

The campaign has largely focused on economic concerns, with rising prices and the cost of living high on the agenda. Other key topics include the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, tackling corruption, and the need for judicial reform. However, there has been little real debate or clear proposals on how the country should be governed.

Text by Miglena Ivanova

Editing: Elena Karkalanova