The Bulgarians, who elected their deputies for the second time in three months on Sunday, have placed a new anti-system party, led by a singer and popular television host, neck and neck with the conservatives of former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov , weakened by accusations of corruption.
Read also: Bulgaria: Borisov isolated in a fragmented Parliament
According to the various polls at the exit of the polling stations, the two formations were credited with 21 to 23% of the votes, all against a background of strong abstention.
This is a clear decline for the Gerb of Boïko Borissov who had obtained more than 26% in April, while the populist party of Slavi Trifonov, baptized "
There is such a people
" (ITP), makes a breakthrough , compared to 17.6% achieved previously.
On everyone's lips, only one question: will the parties succeed this time in agreeing to form a coalition?
In the opinion of the experts, Boïko Borissov "will
not govern because he is isolated
", even if Gerb should in the end come out on top.
The previous ballot indeed marked the end of an era started in 2009, this ex-bodyguard, who marked with his longevity the Bulgarian post-communist history, not being able to find partners.
"That our children do not emigrate"
Weakened by massive demonstrations during the summer of 2020, Boïko Borissov, 62, has lost ground again since, in the face of the flood of revelations from the interim government on the corruption that plagues Bulgaria, the poorest country in the European Union .
“
What chaos they sowed!
“, He denounced by voting at midday, in a yellow shirt and jeans, considering himself targeted and threatened by the investigations.
At 4:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m. GMT), the turnout was only 27.2%, down from 40% on April 4 at 5:00 p.m., according to the Election Commission.
In question: the many "
departures on vacation
" and the installation of voting machines in most offices which may have discouraged "
elderly or illiterate voters
", commented Julius Pavloff, director of the Center for Analysis and Marketing at Sofia, contacted by AFP.
In the capital, voters oscillated between optimism and resignation.
Victoria Nikolova, 34, went to vote with her husband and two daughters "
to reduce corruption
".
His wish, in this depopulated country: "
that our children do not emigrate when they are old
".
But Yulian Lazarov, a 40-year-old journalist, says "
no longer hopes for positive changes
".
“
Nothing ever changes in this country,
” he breathes.
"New faces"
Slavi Trifonov, 54, refuses any cooperation with traditional parties with damaged reputations, including the Socialists and the Turkish Minority Party (MDL).
On the other hand, he said he was ready to negotiate with the representatives of those who took to the streets in the summer of 2020 and are galvanized by the winds of change: democratic Bulgaria (right), which gathered more than 13% of votes according to initial estimates, and Debout!
Mafia out (left, around 5%).
"
It is time to complete what we have started and completely change the governance model
," Slavi Trifonov launched on Facebook, who wants, in case of victory, to appeal to "
young people, new faces
".
Shaved head and dark glasses, “
Slavi
”, as the Bulgarians call him, had a very discreet electoral campaign and a priori will not seek the post of Prime Minister.
The three united protest forces (the party of Slavi Trifonov, democratic Bulgaria and Mafia Dehors) would however obtain only 110 seats out of the 240 in Parliament, according to the counting of analytical institutes which suggests a fragmented landscape.
Analysts warn against "
the weariness of public opinion
" in the event of new elections, to use the words of Boriana Dimitrova, director of the Alpha Research institute.
For this new election, the interim government has attacked an old practice, that of vote buying by political parties, which concerns between 5% and 19% of the vote, according to the NGO Anticorruption Fund.
More than 900 people have been arrested in recent weeks for allegedly trying to bribe voters, especially in disadvantaged areas.