IFES

July 11, 2021 Held

Bulgaria

Republic of Bulgaria

Election for Narodno Sabranie (Bulgarian National Assembly)

Results

Voter
Turnout*
Cast Votes:2,776,195
Valid Votes:2,766,853
Invalid Votes:9,342

Parties:

Party Seats Won Seats Change Votes

There Is Such a People 65 - 657,829

23.78%

Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria - Union of Democratic Forces 63 - 642,165

23.21%

BSP for Bulgaria 36 - 365,695

13.22%

Democratic Bulgaria 34 - 365,695

13.22%

Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) 29 - 292,514

10.57%

Stand Up! Mafia, Get Out! 13 - 136,885

4.95%

More Info:

Snap parliamentary election called after the election on 4 April 2021 resulted in an inconclusive vote.

At stake in this election: 

  • 240 Seats in National Assembly  

Description of government structure: 

  • Chief of State:  President Rumen RADEV (22 January 2017) 

  • Head of Government:  Caretaker Prime Minister Stefan YANEV (since 11 May 2021)* 

  • Assembly:  Bulgaria has a unicameral National Assembly (Narodno Sabranie) with 240 seats. 

*Appointed by President after third failed attempt to form a new government after 14 April 2021 parliament election. Leads interim government while parliament is dissolved until next election (11 July 2021)

 Description of electoral system: 

  • The President is elected by absolute majority vote through a two-round system to serve a 5-year term. 

  • Prime Minister is elected by parliament. 

  • In the National Assembly (Narodno Sabranie) 240 members are elected through a closed-list proportional representation system to serve 4-year terms. 

  •  Bulgaria is divided into 31 multi-member districts, with each district having between 4 and 16 representatives based on population. Political parties and coalitions must receive at least 4 percent of valid votes at the national level to receive a seat. Due to 4% stipulation, many smaller parties register and run as coalitions. 

Last Election: 

  • The last parliamentary election was held on 14 April 2021. As no party received a majority in the parliament and no coalitions were formed, a government was not formed. A snap election was called for 11 July 2021* 

*Under the constitution, if a cabinet is not successfully formed after three attempts, the president dissolves parliament, appoints and interim government, and schedules another election within two months 

 

Main candidates in this election: 

Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) / Граждани за европейско развитие на България 

  • Leader: Boyko BORISOV

  • Seats won in last election: 75 

There is Such a People (ITN) / Има такъв народ

  • Leader: Slavi TRIFONOV 

  • Seats won in last election: 51 

Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) / Българска социалистическа партия

  • Leader: Korneliya NINOVA 

  • Seats won in last election: 43 

Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) / Движение за права и свободи

  • Leader: Mustafa KARADAYI 

  • Seats won in last election: 30 

Democratic Bulgaria (DB) / Демократична България

  • Leaders: Atanas ATANASOV and Hristo IVANOV 

  • Seats won in last election: 27 

Stand Up! Mafia, Get Out! (ISMV) / Изправи се! Мутри вън!*

  • Leaders: Maya MANOLOVA  

  • Seats won in last election: 14 

*Anti-corruption coalition founded 7 February 2021. Established by leaders of Stand Up.BG, Movement 21 (D21), the Bulgaria for Citizens Movement (DBG), the United People’s Party, the Agrarian People’s Union (ZNS) and Volt Bulgaria