Political Exhaustion Weighs on Voters in Third Bulgaria Poll

The newly formed "We Continue the Change" party, led by former interim ministers Kiril Petkov and Assen Vassilev, is expected to make a splash and come in third place, possibly collaborating with Democratic Bulgaria in a potential coalition. 

"It will be interesting to see whether 'We Continue the Change' will motivate those who didn't vote before, and whether Democratic Bulgaria reached its potential in the last two elections," Radev noted.

The presidential elections are more predictable. Current President Rumen Radev, who has a strong reputation, will run as an independent candidate, supported by the Bulgarian Socialist Party. He will face Sofia University rector Anastas Gerdjikov, backed by GERB, and Lozan Panov, backed by Democratic Bulgaria. 

According to the latest Gallup International research, Radev is predicted to win easily, with some 51.2 per cent of vote, far ahead of Anastas Gerdijkov on 22.5 per cent, followed by Mustafa Karadaya of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms on 7.9 per cent and Lozan Panov on 6.2 per cent. 

People are waiting to cast their ballots at a polling station in a school for the parliamentary elections in Sofia, Bulgaria, 04 April 2021. EPA-EFE/VASSIL DONEV Courting voters who abstained before 

For some, the presidential elections are not an add-on the general elections but an issue in their own right. 

"My dislike of Radev is the reason I'm voting in the presidential elections," 38-year-old Stanislav Borisov, working in law, told BIRN. 

He's felt critical of Radev ever since he opposed EU sanctions against Russia in 2018 and describes the President as a populist who escapes taking firm positions on important geopolitical issues. 

Borisov didn't vote at all in April or July...