Bulgarians vote in elections for the 52nd National Assembly

Bulgarians at home and abroad are voting today in elections for the 52nd National Assembly. This is the eighth parliamentary vote since April 2021, and the seventh early election in that time.

Public figures have urged people to turn out despite growing political fatigue, saying higher participation can help limit vote-buying and controlled voting.

Voters will choose the 240 members of parliament from 24 political formations — 14 parties and 10 coalitions — as well as one independent candidate in Smolyan.

Under Bulgaria’s Election Code, voting is compulsory and considered a civic duty, although in practice there are no penalties for not voting.

All Bulgarian citizens aged 18 and over are eligible, unless under legal guardianship or serving a prison sentence. Foreign residents without Bulgarian citizenship cannot vote. The total number of registered voters is just over 6.5 million.

Polling stations are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and may stay open until 9 p.m. if there are still people waiting. Voting machines will be used in over 9,000 polling stations, while around 2,600 will rely on paper ballots only.

Recent polls point to another fragmented parliament, with five to six parties expected to enter. This could lead to complex coalition talks and the need for compromise.

Ultimately, the outcome rests with voters. Their choices today will shape not only the next parliament, but also the prospects for a stable government at a time of global uncertainty.

Text by Miglena Ivanova

Editor: Elena Karkalanova