April 2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election explained

Country:	Bulgaria
Previous Election:	2017
Next Election:	July 2021
Seats For Election:	All 240 seats in the National Assembly
Majority Seats:	121
Turnout:	49.10% (3.47pp)
Party1:	GERB–SDS
Leader1:	Boyko Borisov
Last Election1:	95
Seats1:	75
Percentage1:	25.80
Party2:	There Is Such a People
Leader2:	Slavi Trifonov
Last Election2:	New
Seats2:	51
Percentage2:	17.40
Party3:	BSP for Bulgaria
Leader3:	Korneliya Ninova
Last Election3:	80
Seats3:	43
Percentage3:	14.79
Party4:	Movement for Rights and Freedoms
Leader4:	Mustafa Karadayi
Last Election4:	26
Seats4:	30
Percentage4:	10.36
Party5:	Democratic Bulgaria
Leader5:	A. Atanasov & H. Ivanov
Last Election5:	0
Seats5:	27
Percentage5:	9.31
Party6:	Stand Up! Mafia, Get Out!
Leader6:	M. Manolova & N. Hadjigenov
Last Election6:	New
Seats6:	14
Percentage6:	4.65
Prime Minister
Before Election:	Boyko Borisov
Before Party:	GERB
After Election:	Stefan Yanev
After Party:	Independent politician

Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 4 April 2021 at the end of the term of National Assembly members elected in 2017.^[1] Parties in the governing coalition led by Boyko Borisov lost seats and no party leader was able to form a coalition government within the time limit. This triggered the July 2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election.

Background

See main article: 2021–2023 Bulgarian political crisis and 2020–2021 Bulgarian protests.

Electoral system

The 240 members of the National Assembly are 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 using the largest remainder method.^[2]

Parties and coalitions

The incumbent government was a coalition between the conservative GERB party of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and the nationalist United Patriots alliance (formed from IMRO, Attack and the NFSB), with the support of the populist Volya Movement. Together they held 132 out of 240 seats in the National Assembly.

During The Greens' 2020 national meeting, the party representatives voted in favor of a coalition at "the next parliamentary election with the other two members of Democratic Bulgaria". The party representatives voted against a "coalition with any of the political parties in the current National Assembly" - namely, GERB, BSP, DPS, Volya and OP.^[3]

The deputy chairman of ITN, Toshko Yordanov, said in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio, that the party "will not enter a coalition with GERB, DPS or BSP".^[4]

The cochairman of Democratic Bulgaria, Hristo Ivanov, stated in an interview for bTV, that "there will be no coalition with GERB, whether with or without Borisov".^[5]

The chairman of Bulgaria for Citizens Movement, Dimitar Delchev, announced that his party was joining Stand Up.BG during a public presentation of the citizens' platform at Slaveykov Square, in August 2020.^[6] The same was done by the chairman of Volt Bulgaria - Nastimir Ananiev,^[7] as well as the chairman of the party Movement 21 - Tatyana Doncheva.^[8] The citizens' organization The System Kills Us announced their support for Nikola Vaptsarov as their representative within Stand Up.BG.^[7]

List

When only some of the leaders of a coalition are its official representatives, their names are in bold. All lines with a light gray background indicate support for a party or coalition that has been agreed upon outside of the official CEC electoral registration.

Name				Ideology	Leader(s)	2017 result		Seats at dissolution
Name				Ideology	Leader(s)	Votes (%)	Seats	Seats at dissolution
	GERB—SDS	GERB	Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria	Conservatism Populism	Boyko Borisov	align=center rowspan="3"	32.65
		SDS	Union of Democratic Forces	Conservatism Christian democracy	Rumen Hristov
		DEN	Movement for the Unity of the People	Turkish minority interests	Mehmed Dikme
	BSP for Bulgaria	BSP	Bulgarian Socialist Party	Social democracy Democratic socialism	Korneliya Ninova	27.19
		NZ	New Dawn	Left-wing nationalism	Mincho Minchev
		CPB	Communist Party of Bulgaria	Communism Marxism–Leninism	Aleksandar Paunov
		–	Ecoglasnost	Green politics Environmentalism	Emil Georgiev
		Trakiya	Trakiya Political Club	Bulgarian nationalism	Stefan Nachev
	VMRO	IMRO– BNM	IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement	Bulgarian ultranationalism National conservatism	Krasimir Karakachanov	9.07 (OP)
		ROD	Association „ROD International“	Conservatism	David Alexandrov
		SEK	Middle European Class	Pro-Europeanism	Georgi Manev
		SPSZ	Union of Patriotic Forces "Defense"	Bulgarian nationalism	Petar Beron
		ZS-AS	Agrarian Union "Aleksandar Stamboliyski"	Agrarianism Progressivism	Spas Panchev
	Ataka		Attack	Bulgarian ultranationalism Right-wing populism	Volen Siderov	align=center	9.07 (OP)
	DPS		Movement for Rights and Freedoms	Liberalism Turkish minority interests	Mustafa Karadayi	8.99
	Patriotic Coalition Volya–NFSB	Volya	Volya Movement	Right-wing populism Anti-establishment	Veselin Mareshki	4.15
		NFSB	National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria	Bulgarian nationalism National conservatism	Valeri Simeonov
		OSD	United Social Democracy	Social democracy	Jordan Gergov
		BSDP	Bulgarian Social Democratic Party	Social democracy	Jordan Nihrizov
		CDP	Christian Democratic Party of Bulgaria	Christian democracy	Irina Arabadzhieva
		RDP	Radical Democratic Party in Bulgaria	Liberalism	Zahari Petrov
		BDSR	Bulgarian Democratic Union "Radicals"	Agrarianism Conservatism	Tsvetan Manchev
		align=center	BZNS	Bulgarian Agrarian National Union	Agrarianism Centrism				Nikolay Nenchev
		SBDR	Association "Bulgarian Homemade Brandy"	Farmers' rights	Petko Sabev
	GN		People's Voice	Eurorealism Populism	Svetoslav Vitkov	align=center	3.06 (RB)
	DB	align=center	DSB	Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria	National liberalism Pro-Europeanism	Atanas Atanasov	3.06 (RB)
		DaB		Yes, Bulgaria!	Anti-corruption Civic engagement	Hristo Ivanov	2.88
		align=center	ZD	Green Movement	Green politics Green liberalism	Borislav Sandov Vladislav Panev
		DEN	Dignity of United People	Liberalism	Naiden Zelenogorski
	ABV		Alternative for Bulgarian Revival	Social democracy Social conservatism	Rumen Petkov	align=center	1.55
	Revival		Revival	Bulgarian nationalism Anti-corruption	Kostadin Kostadinov	align=center	1.08
	Greens		Party of the Greens	Green politics Anti-capitalism	Vladimir Nikolov	align=center	0.29
	Together for Change	BSDE	Bulgarian Social Democracy – EuroLeft	Social democracy Third Way	Aleksandar Tomov Dimitar Mitev	0.17 (KN)
		ESI	European Security and Integration	Romani minority interests Social democracy	Toma Tomov
		align=center	R 2000	Patriotism 2000	Patriotism				Julian Ivanov
	BNO	BNO	Bulgarian National Unification	Bulgarian nationalism	Georgi Georgiev	0.11
	BNO	GPBL	Civic Platform „Bulgarian Summer“	Populism	Boris Sokolov	0.11
	Citizens of Protest	align=center	BL	Bulgarian Left	Socialism Democratic socialism	Boyan Kirov	0.08
		align=center	KOY	Competence, Responsibility and Truth	Right-wing^[9]	Svetozar Saev
		align=center	BZP	Bulgarian Agrarian Party	Agrarianism	Peycho Kasarov
		align=center	SKB	Union of Communists in Bulgaria	Communism Marxism	Pavel Ivanov
	We, the Citizens	align=center	KtB	Coalition For you Bulgaria	Pro-Europeanism Centre-right	Valeri Grigorov	align=center	–
	We, the Citizens	align=center	BDO	Bulgarian Democratic Union	Christian democracy	Gospodin Tonev	align=center	–
	BNU–ND		Bulgarian National Union – New Democracy	Neo-Nazism Racism Hard Euroscepticism	Boris Ivanov Bogdan Yotsov	align=center	–
	KOD		Conservative Union of the Right	National conservatism	Petar Moskov	align=center colspan="2"	–
	BPL		Bulgarian Progressive Line	Democratic socialism Progressivism	Krassimir Yankov	align=center colspan="2"	–
	VO		Revival of the Fatherland	Conservatism Russophilia	Nikolay Malinov	align=center colspan="2"	–
	Nation		Nation	Right-wing populism Hard euroscepticism^[10]	Kiril Gumnerov	align=center colspan="2"	–
	MIR		Morality, Initiative and Patriotism	Conservatism	Simeon Slavchev	align=center colspan="2"	–
	ISMV	align=center	D21	Movement 21	Social democracy Environmentalism	Tatyana Doncheva	–
		align=center	DBG	Bulgaria for Citizens Movement	Centrism	Dimitar Delchev
		align=center	ENP	United People's Party	Liberalism Pro-Europeanism	Valentina Vasileva-Filadelfevs
		IS.BG	Stand Up.BG	Anti-corruption Anti-elitism	Maya Manolova
		OT	Poisonous Trio and Citizens	Direct democracy Populism	Nikolay Hadzhigenov
		VOLT	Volt Bulgaria	Pro-Europeanism European federalism	Nastimir Ananiev
		DNES	Movement for National Unity and Salvation	Social liberalism	Angelica Tsokova
		ZNS	Agrarian People's Union	Agrarianism	Rumen Yonche
	DNK		Movement of Independent Candidates	Populism^[11]	Boyko Mladenov Boyko Nikiforov Mincho Kuminev Ognyan Boyukliev	align=center colspan="2"	–
	RzB		Republicans for Bulgaria	Conservatism Economic liberalism	Tsvetan Tsvetanov	align=center colspan="2"	–
	Pravoto		Rights, Reforms, Alternative, Opportunities, Responsibility, Tolerance and Unity	Populism	Maria Koleva	align=center colspan="2"	–
	BOG		Prosperity, Unification, Constructiveness	Patriotism	Ivan Gaberov	align=center colspan="2"	–
	ONB	ONB	Society for New Bulgaria	Conservatism	Kalin Krulev	–
	ONB	ZM	NGO "Green Mladost"	Green politics	Desislava Ivancheva	–
	BSDD		Bulgarian Union for Direct Democracy	Direct democracy	Georgi Nedelchev	align=center colspan="2"	–
	ITN		There Is Such A People	Populism Direct democracy	Slavi Trifonov	align=center colspan="2"	–
	PD		Direct Democracy	Direct democracy	Peter Klisarov	align=center colspan="2"	–
	Independents^[12]		–	–	–	0.15

Opinion polls

The opinion poll results below were recalculated from the original data and exclude pollees that chose 'I will not vote' or 'I am uncertain'.

Polling firm	Fieldwork date	Sample size	Margin of error	GERB	BSP	DPS	OP	DB	Volya	ITN	ISMV	Others / None	Lead
Polling firm	Fieldwork date	Sample size	Margin of error	data-sort-type="number" style="background:;"		data-sort-type="number" style="background:;"		data-sort-type="number" style="background:;"		data-sort-type="number" style="background:;"		Others / None	Lead	data-sort-type="number" style="background:;"	data-sort-type="number" style="background:;"	data-sort-type="number" style="background:;"	data-sort-type="number" style="background:;;"
Alpha Research (voters)	data-sort-value="2021-03-01"	26 Feb–1 Mar 2021	1,013	–	28.5%	23.2%	12.5%	3.7%	5.7%	1.8%	13.3%	4.5%	6.8%	5.3%
Mediana	data-sort-value="2020-12-17"	22–26 Feb 2021	943	–	27.5%	24.2%	10.7%	4.0%	4.2%	3.1%	15.2%	5.0%	6.1%	3.3%
Market Links (voters)	data-sort-value="2021-02-24"	17–24 Feb 2021	1,019	–	24.6%	18.9%	8.5%	2.7%	7.6%	–	13.0%	3.9%	20.8%	5.7%
Trend (voters)	data-sort-value="2021-02-19"	12–19 Feb 2021	1,008	± 3.1%	28.9%	24.1%	11.1%	3.8%	6.2%	2.6%	12.9%	4.0%	6.4%	4.8%
Gallup (voters)	data-sort-value="2021-01-15"	4–12 Feb 2021	1,011	± 3.1%	25.8%	21.9%	12.4%	4.2%	6.8%	2.7%	13.1%	4.7%	8.4%	3.9%
Market Links (voters)	data-sort-value="2021-01-31"	23–31 Jan 2021	500	–	28.6%	20.9%	11.9%	3.4%	10.7%	–	15.5%	5.3%	3.8%	7.7%
Market Links (all)	data-sort-value="2021-01-31"	23–31 Jan 2021	1,000	–	25.5%	22.5%	11.2%	4.3%	8%	–	18.1%	6.6%	3.8%	3%
Trend (voters)	data-sort-value="2021-01-19"	12–19 Jan 2021	1,008	± 3.1%	27.6%	24.9%	10.3%	4%	6%	1.3%	11.8%	4.1%	10%	2.7%
Gallup (voters)	data-sort-value="2021-01-15"	7–15 Jan 2021	1,010	± 3.1%	25.6%	21.4%	12.2%	5.1%	6.9%	2.3%	13.8%	5%	7.6%	4.2%
Alpha Research (voters)	data-sort-value="2020-12-21"	15–21 Dec 2020	504	–	29%	26.2%	8.6%	3.2%	7.3%	–	12.2%	5.9%	7.6%	2.8%
Mediana	data-sort-value="2020-12-17"	12–17 Dec 2020	954	–	24.2%	25.7%	10.8%	4.7%	3.4%	1.6%	17%	4.8%	7.8%	1.5%
Exacta	data-sort-value="2020-12-12"	5–12 Dec 2020	1,025	–	28.8%	25.6%	8.4%	5.4%	6%	–	14%	3.7%	8.1%	3.2%
Barometer	data-sort-value="2020-11-29"	24–29 Nov 2020	847	–	33.5%	20.8%	13.2%	12.7%	5.2%	1.2%	6.2%	2.5%	4.8%	12.7%
Barometer	data-sort-value="2020-11-11"	6–11 Nov 2020	882	–	33.6%	21.6%	12.3%	12%	5.1%	1.1%	6.1%	2.6%	5.7%	12%
Sova Harris	data-sort-value="2020-11-03"	27 Oct–3 Nov 2020	1,000	± 3.1%	26.6%	25.1%	8.7%	5.5%	8.4%	3.2%	11.4%	5.7%	5.4%	1.5%
Rego (voters)	data-sort-value="2020-10-27"	21–27 Oct 2020	2,000	–	27.1%	26.3%	8.3%	2.8%	7.6%	1.1%	18.6%	3.9%	4.3%	0.8%
Specter (voters)	data-sort-value="2020-10-17"	12–16 Oct 2020	1,016	–	22.9%	21.8%	10.4%	3.4%	12.2%	0.8%	16.1%	3.5%	8.9%	1.1%
Barometer	data-sort-value="2020-10-16"	10–16 Oct 2020	866	–	32.7%	23.6%	12.4%	11.3%	4.7%	1.1%	6.1%	2.7%	5.3%	9.1%
Trend (voters)	data-sort-value="2020-10-10"	3–10 Oct 2020	1,008	± 3.1%	24.1%	23.6%	10.2%	3.8%	8.8%	1.6%	15.9%	3.9%	8.1%	0.5%
Gallup	data-sort-value="2020-10-09"	1–9 Oct 2020	803	± 3.5%	19.1%	19.8%	10.1%	3.4%	7.3%	2.6%	12.6%	3.7%	21.4%	0.7%
Alpha Research (voters)	data-sort-value="2020-09-30"	21–30 Sep 2020	1,031	–	22.8%	21.8%	11%	4.2%	10.5%	0.3%	16.6%	5.1%	7.7%	1%
Market Links (voters)	data-sort-value="2020-09-26"	18–26 Sep 2020	544	–	27.4%	27.2%	9.9%	2.7%	11.8%	–	13.5%	3.1%	4.4%	0.2%
Market Links (all)	data-sort-value="2020-09-26"	18–26 Sep 2020	1,058	–	24.6%	25.5%	11.7%	2.8%	10%	–	17%	4.2%	4.2%	0.9%
Gallup	data-sort-value="2020-09-11"	3–11 Sep 2020	807	± 3.5%	18.6%	19%	10.7%	3.8%	7.3%	2.5%	11.7%	3.1%	22.6%	0.4%
Trend (voters)	data-sort-value="2020-09-05"	29 Aug–5 Sep 2020	1,008	± 3.1%	23.8%	23.4%	10.4%	3.9%	9.9%	1.2%	15.9%	4%	7.5%	0.4%
Sova Harris	data-sort-value="2020-08-25"	19–25 Aug 2020	1,000	± 3.1%	27.7%	24.5%	9.2%	4.4%	7%	3%	15.7%	4.5%	4%	3.2%
Barometer	data-sort-value="2020-08-11"	3–11 Aug 2020	842	–	38.9%	18.9%	12.2%	11.7%	4.8%	1.7%	5.3%	1.9%	4.5%	20%
Trend (voters)	data-sort-value="2020-08-10"	3–10 Aug 2020	1,010	± 3.1%	24.2%	22.9%	9.8%	4.1%	10.1%	1.2%	14.9%	4.4%	8.4%	1.3%
Gallup	data-sort-value="2020-08-07"	30 Jul–7 Aug 2020	811	± 3.5%	20%	19.1%	9.4%	3.2%	7.9%	2.2%	10.9%	3.3%	24.1%	0.9%
CAM	data-sort-value="2020-08-05"	1–5 Aug 2020	1,021	± 3.1%	30.1%	19.7%	10.8%	4.3%	10.1%	2.1%	13.9%	5%	3.9%	10.4%
Market Links (voters)	data-sort-value="2020-08-03"	28 Jul–3 Aug 2020	573	–	26.3%	24.7%	10.5%	5%	12.8%	–	13.8%	2.5%	4.5%	1.6%
Market Links (all)	data-sort-value="2020-08-03"	28 Jul–3 Aug 2020	1,093	–	23.3%	20.7%	9.6%	4.6%	10.1%	–	23%	4%	4.7%	0.3%
Gallup	data-sort-value="2020-07-31"	Jul 2020	–	± 3.5%	27.4%	25.7%	8.5%	4.4%	3.2%	2.4%	8.6%	1.8%	17.9%	1.7%
Alpha Research	data-sort-value="2020-07-30"	23–30 Jul 2020	1,017	–	26.7%	19.2%	8.3%	4.1%	12.3%	0.9%	18.8%	5.9%	3.9%	7.5%
Sova Harris	data-sort-value="2020-07-1"	26 Jun–1 Jul 2020	1,000	–	37.4%	21.4%	7.7%	7.5%	4.2%	4.2%	9.1%	2.6%	5.8%	16%
Gallup	data-sort-value="2020-06-30"	Jun 2020	–	± 3.5%	29%	23.1%	7.9%	3.8%	3.2%	2.4%	7%	2.4%	21.3%	5.9%
Barometer	data-sort-value="2020-06-25"	20–25 Jun 2020	828	–	37.5%	20.4%	11.2%	10.1%	3.4%	1.5%	3.8%	1.7%	10.5%	17.1%
Market Links (voters)	data-sort-value="2020-06-03"	27 May–3 Jun 2020	483	–	34.1%	25.6%	9.8%	3.7%	8.5%	–	9.8%	–	8.5%	8.5%
Alpha Research	data-sort-value="2020-05-05"	28 Apr–5 May 2020	1,000	–	33.4%	19.6%	10.3%	6.3%	5.9%	1.6%	14.6%	–	8.2%	13.8%
Mediana	data-sort-value="2020-02-28"	21–28 Feb 2020	1,008	–	29.4%	25.7%	13.3%	5.8%	2.7%	1.9%	12.9%	–	8.3%	3.7%
Barometer	data-sort-value="2020-02-27"	27 Feb 2020	–	–	35.2%	24%	10.5%	9%	3.1%	1.4%	3.7%	1.6%	11.5%	11.2%
Trend	data-sort-value="2020-02-10"	3–10 Feb 2020	1,007	± 3.1%	30.6%	27.3%	10.1%	3.9%	6%	2%	10.7%	–	9.4%	3.3%
Barometer (voters)	data-sort-value="2020-01-13"	9–13 Jan 2020	873	–	35.5%	28.2%	11%	11%	3.2%	–	3.6%	–	7.5%	7.3%
Alpha Research	data-sort-value="2019-12-12"	5–12 Dec 2019	1,017	–	29.8%	25%	10.7%	7.3%	7%	2.1%	11.8%	–	6.2%	4.8%
Market Links (voters)	data-sort-value="2019-11-28"	21–28 Nov 2019	448	–	29.4%	29.4%	8.2%	5.9%	10.6%	2.4%	10.6%	–	4.7%	Tie
Market Links (all)	data-sort-value="2019-11-28"	21–28 Nov 2019	980	–	28.6%	25.4%	12.7%	6.3%	7.9%	1.6%	12.7%	–	3.2%	3.2%
Trend	data-sort-value="2019-11-15"	7–15 Nov 2019	1,008	± 3.1%	35.6%	27.5%	10.3%	5.1%	4.6%	1.8%	7.6%	–	7.3%	8.1%
Alpha Research	data-sort-value="2019-09-16"	10–16 Sep 2019	1,023	–	29.6%	25.8%	11.8%	6.6%	5.6%	2.8%	11.4%	–	6.3%	3.8%
Market Links (voters)	data-sort-value="2019-06-19"	11–19 Jun 2019	429	–	34.9%	33%	9.1%	6.8%	6%	3.8%	–	–	6.4%	1.9%
Trend	data-sort-value="2019-06-12"	5–12 Jun 2019	1,008	± 3.1%	36.7%	29.1%	10.9%	7.6%	5.1%	1.8%	–	–	8.8%	7.6%
2017 election	data-sort-value="2017-03-26"	26 Mar 2017	–	–	32.65%	27.19%	8.99%	9.07%	5.36%	4.15%	–	–	12.59%	5.46%

Notes:

Graphical representation of recalculated data:Note: The above data does not include Barometer polls, due to claims by other pollsters and media that the agency only has one employee.^[13]

Results

By constituency

Constituency	GERB–SDS	ITN	BSPzB	DPS	DB	ISMV	VMRO	Others
Constituency	style=background:		style=background:		style=background:		style=background:		style=background:	style=background:	style=background:	style=background:
Blagoevgrad	34.94%	14.99%	12.58%	13.55%	5.10%	3.00%	6.59%	9.25%
Burgas	25.68%	15.33%	14.29%	12.85%	7.18%	5.89%	4.35%	14.43%
Varna	28.84%	19.24%	11.27%	5.65%	8.75%	5.24%	5.98%	15.03%
Veliko Tarnovo	24.00%	20.87%	21.99%	6.61%	6.03%	4.38%	4.11%	12.01%
Vidin	33.13%	14.93%	20.52%	8.78%	4.79%	3.17%	2.85%	11.83%
Vratsa	32.99%	17.63%	16.26%	10.34%	4.28%	3.93%	3.72%	10.85%
Gabrovo	32.20%	19.82%	15.71%	3.68%	5.40%	5.84%	3.41%	13.94%
Dobrich	27.49%	16.86%	19.33%	8.43%	5.52%	4.56%	3.36%	14.45%
Kardzhali	15.30%	5.34%	8.13%	63.05%	2.11%	1.10%	0.49%	4.48%
Kyustendil	31.95%	17.59%	19.59%	1.87%	4.66%	6.16%	4.51%	13.67%
Lovech	35.11%	16.80%	16.09%	10.17%	4.23%	4.29%	2.79%	10.52%
Montana	34.12%	13.56%	14.64%	13.36%	3.04%	3.89%	2.81%	14.58%
Pazardzhik	30.14%	15.91%	16.48%	14.43%	4.12%	3.38%	3.10%	12.44%
Pernik	36.74%	17.48%	16.98%	1.15%	6.00%	5.14%	3.15%	13.36%
Pleven	24.63%	24.23%	18.75%	5.13%	4.60%	4.28%	5.69%	12.69%
Plovdiv-city	25.49%	19.94%	14.63%	2.95%	12.65%	5.08%	4.41%	14.85%
Plovdiv-province	24.87%	18.64%	20.48%	8.50%	4.74%	4.51%	3.26%	15.00%
Razgrad	22.35%	9.01%	9.61%	40.08%	7.51%	1.98%	1.21%	8.25%
Ruse	20.86%	20.98%	18.86%	9.06%	7.99%	5.02%	5.63%	11.60%
Silistra	29.31%	12.01%	13.39%	27.12%	3.49%	2.87%	3.84%	7.97%
Sliven	30.80%	17.22%	17.76%	8.20%	5.51%	5.32%	2.67%	12.52%
Smolyan	29.41%	16.06%	13.53%	20.89%	4.06%	3.72%	1.53%	10.80%
Sofia-city 23	20.17%	14.40%	13.32%	0.57%	28.48%	6.54%	3.32%	13.20%
Sofia-city 24	22.62%	15.41%	13.07%	1.33%	24.43%	5.96%	3.53%	13.65%
Sofia-city 25	24.08%	18.81%	14.70%	0.72%	16.12%	6.28%	4.09%	15.20%
Sofia-province	35.19%	19.02%	16.64%	4.14%	5.24%	3.85%	4.61%	11.31%
Stara Zagora	22.34%	20.70%	16.57%	12.20%	6.23%	6.07%	2.98%	12.91%
Targovishte	18.40%	11.74%	13.41%	37.52%	2.67%	2.63%	1.67%	11.96%
Haskovo	37.34%	14.20%	14.87%	13.40%	4.72%	4.32%	1.42%	9.73%
Shumen	27.69%	14.50%	14.50%	22.65%	3.43%	3.42%	2.80%	11.01%
Yambol	24.38%	18.72%	27.27%	1.54%	5.08%	6.00%	2.34%	14.67%

Bulgarian nationals abroad	8.66%	30.75%	6.52%	13.17%	17.56%	4.24%	1.57%	17.53%
align=left colspan=9	Source: CIK

Voter demographics

Gallup exit polling suggested the following demographic breakdown.^[14] The parties which received below 4% of the vote are included in 'Others':

Voter demographics
Social group	% GERB	% ITN	% BSP	% DPS	% DB	% ISMV	% VMRO	% Others	% Lead
Social group								% Others	% Lead
Exit Poll Result	23	17	16	10	10	5	4	15	6
Final Result	25.8	17.4	14.8	10.4	9.3	4.7	3.6	14	8.4
Gender
Men	22	17	16	12	9	3	5	15	5
Women	23	17	17	8	11	6	3	14	6
Age
18–30	15	30	7	11	14	2	3	18	15
30-60	24	18	13	10	11	6	4	14	6
60+	23	8	33	11	6	4	4	11	10
Highest Level of Education
Lower Education	20	6	22	35	2	1	3	11	13
Secondary Education	24	17	19	12	4	4	4	16	5
Higher Education	21	19	14	2	19	7	4	14	2
Ethnic Group
Bulgarian	23	18	18	2	11	5	5	18	5
Turkic	13	3	7	67	1	1	1	7	54
Roma	24	10	18	27	2	2	4	13	3
Location
Towns and Villages	24	10	18	26	2	3	5	12	2
Smaller Cities	24	19	20	9	3	4	5	16	4
Larger Cities	23	20	16	2	10	6	4	18	3
Sofia	19	15	12	0	30	6	3	15	11

Analysis

Both GERB and BSP had very poor results and there was a large turnover with a third of the seats taken by parties not represented in the previous parliament.^[15] A central theme in the election was purported corruption in the GERB-led government, which saw GERB lose seats and various anti-corruption parties gain, most notably Slavi Trifonov's ITN, but also DB and ISMV. The Bulgarian Socialist Party suffered from division between its leader Korneliya Ninova and other factions. The BSP recorded their worst-ever result in a democratic election. The far-right parties also suffered from splits, losing their representation in parliament; the Attack party and the two remaining parties from the United Patriots alliance (the National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria and Volya Movement) contested the elections separately, with none winning a seat. The three combined results of the three parties suggested they could have crossed the electoral threshold if they had run together.

The election happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated a greater focus on online campaigning. Contrary to expectations, voter turnout was broadly unchanged.

Government formation

After his offer of a technocrat government was rejected by the opposition, Borisov said that as leader of the largest party, he would try to form a coalition government, and that he would also be open to supporting an ITN-led government. However, Borisov himself stated he would likely be unsuccessful in forming a coalition, with the likeliest outcomes being either a caretaker government followed by new elections or a coalition of parties new to Parliament.^[16] ^[17]

After former foreign minister Daniel Mitov, whom Boyko Borisov had nominated as GERB's candidate for prime minister,^[18] failed to form a government,^[19] the mandate was then offered to Slavi Trifonov's ITN. Chess grandmaster Antoaneta Stefanova, whom Trifonov appointed to take the mandate from president Rumen Radev immediately returned it in accordance with Trifonov's wish.^[20] Korneliya Ninova of BSPzB formally received the final mandate from president Radev on 5 May 2021, but refused to form a government due to a lack of support from other parliamentary opposition parties.^[21] This triggered an early election (to be held on 11 July), and the president appointed a caretaker government led by Stefan Yanev^[22] to run the country until the elections are over and a permanent administration is formed.^[23] ^[21]

Notes and References

https://www.dnevnik.bg/politika/2021/01/14/4163573_prezidentut_nasrochi_izborite_na_4_april/ Президентът насрочи парламентарните избори на 4 април
https://www.idea.int/answer/ans1303551645461599 Electoral system for national legislature – Bulgaria
https://www.zelenite.bg/18663 Владислав Панев и Борислав Сандов бяха преизбрани за съпредседатели на „Зелено движение“
https://offnews.bg/politika/za-partiata-na-slavi-trifonov-sa-zabraneni-saiuzi-s-gerb-bsp-i-dps-737689.html За партията на Слави Трифонов са забранени съюзи с ГЕРБ, БСП и ДПС
https://offnews.bg/politika/hristo-ivanov-koalitcia-sas-gerb-niama-da-ima-sas-ili-bez-borisov-737955.html Христо Иванов: Коалиция с ГЕРБ няма да има със или без Борисов
Web site: Димитър Делчев: Можем и имаме силите да изгоним грабливите животни от властническото гнездо. www.youtube.com. 2020-10-21. 2020-11-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20201107020209/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO8DM6rPMsQ. live.
Web site: НАСТИМИР АНАНИЕВ: ВЛАСТТА СЕ ПРОВАЛИ И НЕ ИЗПЪЛНИ ОЧАКВАНИЯТА НА СУВЕРЕНА. www.youtube.com. 2020-10-21. 2020-10-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20201018021010/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF1wKWbcmTM. live.
Web site: Татяна Дончева и Движение 21 се присъединяват към мрежата Изправи се.БГ. www.youtube.com. 2020-10-21. 2020-10-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20201021112453/https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=3Pu7r9Zixgo&app=desktop. live.
https://europeelects.eu/bulgaria/ Bulgaria - Europe Elects
https://нация.бг/програма/ Програма на ПП „Нация“
https://sgs.justice.bg/upload/57500/40-20.pdf Устав на „Движение на непартийните кандидати“
Includes all deputies without a parliamentary group
https://www.svobodnaevropa.bg/a/30988522.html When the numbers 'smell fishy'. How a party-colored agency sends something and BNT shows it
Web site: 2021-07-12 . Демографски профили на вота – 4 April . bg-BG.
Web site: Election Surprises End Bulgaria's Political Stability. Balkan Insight. Tom. Junes. April 6, 2021. April 22, 2021. April 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210411164956/https://balkaninsight.com/2021/04/06/election-surprises-end-bulgarias-political-stability/. live.
Web site: Bulgarian PM Seeks Coalition Government But Says Effort 'Unlikely To Succeed. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. April 7, 2021. April 22, 2021. June 7, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210607062722/https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgarian-pm-seeks-government-coalition-success-unlikely/31191806.html. live.
News: Bulgaria's election was all about corruption, not covid-19. Here are 4 takeaways.. The Washington Post. Emilia. Zankina. Yuxiang. Lin. Tim. Haughton. April 7, 2021. April 22, 2021. April 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210421000041/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/04/07/bulgarias-election-was-all-about-corruption-not-covid-19-here-are-4-takeaways/. live.
Web site: Bulgaria's elections: Borissov says will propose Daniel Mitov as PM. April 14, 2021. May 1, 2021. May 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210501210737/https://sofiaglobe.com/2021/04/14/bulgarias-elections-borissov-says-will-propose-daniel-mitov-as-pm/. live.
News: Bulgaria's GERB party fails to form a government, new polls loom. Reuters. April 23, 2021. www.reuters.com. May 1, 2021. May 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210501210736/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-bulgaria-government-idUKKBN2CA0W1. live.
Web site: Bulgaria: Trifonov's party formally refuses mandate to form government. April 28, 2021. May 1, 2021. May 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210501210739/https://sofiaglobe.com/2021/04/28/bulgaria-trifonovs-party-formally-refuses-mandate-to-form-government/. live.
Web site: Bulgaria's president to call July election and appoint technocrat interim government. May 5, 2021. Reuters. 2021-05-05. 2021-05-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20210505174749/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/bulgaria-hold-snap-election-july-11-president-2021-05-05/. live.
Web site: Служебният премиер Стефан Янев: Аз съм човек, който не дава празни обещания. 2021-05-12. nova.bg. bulgarian. 2021-05-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512110554/https://nova.bg/news/view/2021/05/12/326228/%D1%81%D0%BB%D1%83%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F%D1%82-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%B5%D1%80-%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%84%D0%B0%D0%BD-%D1%8F%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B2-%D0%B0%D0%B7-%D1%81%D1%8A%D0%BC-%D1%87%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BA-%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B9%D1%82%D0%BE-%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B8-%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%B5%D1%89%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F. live.
Web site: Bulgaria faces fresh vote as Socialists refuse to form government. www.aljazeera.com. 2021-05-01. 2021-05-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20210501210736/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/1/bulgaria-faces-fresh-vote-as-socialists-refuse-to-form-government. live.