Borissov appears winner of Bulgaria’s parliamentary election

The center-right GERB statement of ex-premier Boyko Borissov appears to beryllium nan victor of Bulgaria’s parliamentary election, nan country’s cardinal electoral committee said

SOFIA, Bulgaria -- SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) —

The center-right GERB statement of ex-premier Boyko Borissov appears to beryllium nan victor of Bulgaria’s parliamentary election, nan country’s cardinal electoral committee said Monday, pinch 98% of nan ballots counted.

Results showed nan GERB statement receiving 26.5% of nan vote, astir 12 percent points much than nan pro-Western reformist bloc led by nan We Continue nan Change party.

Seven different parties besides look to person gained seats successful nan 240-seat chamber, according to nan latest results.

The far-right, ultranationalist and populist statement Vazrazhdane came successful 3rd pinch 13.5% of nan vote. Capitalizing connected pro-Russian sentiments shared by galore successful this erstwhile communist nation, it demands that Bulgaria assistance sanctions against Russia, extremity helping Ukraine, and clasp a referendum connected its rank successful NATO.

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms, which traditionally represented Bulgaria’s ample taste Turkish minority, precocious divided into 2 rival factions, 1 astir statement laminitis Ahmed Dogan, and nan different down U.S.-sanctioned businessman and erstwhile media tycoon Delyan Peevski. Both factions entered parliament — nan first pinch 7%, and nan second pinch 11% of nan vote.

The remaining seats successful nan enclosure will beryllium divided betwixt 4 mini populist and pro-Russian groups, among them nan Socialist Party — heir of nan once-almighty Communist Party.

It could return days earlier nan last charismatic results are announced. If confirmed, Borissov will beryllium handed a instruction to shape his 4th government.

In his first remark aft nan vote, Borissov described his party’s triumph arsenic “categorical” and said that he was fresh to discuss to shape a conjugation pinch each different parties isolated from Vazrazhdane.

But it seems Borissov will look an uphill struggle to cobble together a governing coalition. Political analysts predicted that nan results, which do not disagree importantly from nan six erstwhile elections held wrong nan past three-and-a-half years, will beryllium followed by difficult conjugation talks. They don’t norm retired different election.