Todor Zhivkov

Over 35% of Bulgarians support the complete annulment of the October 27 elections, according to a national survey conducted by bTV and Market LINKS. The poll was carried out between November 12 and 19, 2024, involving 1,017 participants aged 18 and over, using both in-person interviews and online questionnaires.

Thirty-five years have passed since the pivotal beginning of Bulgaria's transition from a one-party system to democracy and a market economy.

Seven parties are set to enter the 51st Bulgarian National Assembly, according to data from a national survey funded and conducted jointly by bTV and "Market LINKS." The survey was conducted among 1,014 individuals aged 18 and over between October 15-20, utilizing face-to-face interviews and online questionnaires.

Survey Results:

The state company "LB Bulgaricum" has signed an agreement with its long-time partner, the Japanese company "Meiji," to establish a joint research laboratory in Bulgaria. The signing ceremony was attended by Acting Minister of Economy Petko Nikolov and the Japanese Ambassador to Bulgaria, His Excellency Hisashi Michigami.

In the Bulgarian parliament, a heated dispute erupted over the proposal to award Georgi Yordanov the "Stara Planina" order of the first degree, nearly resulting in a physical altercation. The conflict centered around the communist regime and "State Security."

A recent survey conducted jointly by Market LINKS and bTV reveals significant public dissatisfaction and mistrust towards Bulgaria's political institutions following the early elections. According to Dobromir Zhivkov, a sociologist from Market LINKS, only 9% of respondents express confidence in the 50th National Assembly, with a staggering 68% indicating a lack of confidence in the parliament.

As the European elections loom, recent polling data suggests that five Bulgarian parties are poised to secure representation in the European Parliament, with a notable increase in support for three of them: "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB), "Vazrazhdane" (Revival), and the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP).

After yesterday's local elections, mayors have been elected in the first round in 8 of the regional cities, while in the others a runoff will be held next Sunday (November 5).

In the first round, the mayor of Burgas, Dimitar Nikolov (picture), was elected from GERB for a fifth term (with 60.42% and 72.81% of the votes cast).

Society's expectations are that the life of the "Denkov" cabinet will be short. Only 15% believe that the cabinet will last for the planned period of one and a half years, said the sociologist Dobromir Zhivkov, who presented the conclusions of a national survey by "Market Links" on the political attitudes in the society, made on the order of bTV.

A man votes in a polling station during the general election in Sofia, Bulgaria, 14 November 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/VASSIL DONEV

Bulgarian Ambassador Angel Tcholakov was informed that Turkey rejects all allegations that Bulgarian voters of Turkish ethnicity were essentially directed by the Turkish authorities to vote for an ethnic Turkish party in Bulgaria on November 14.