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Bulgarians vote in parliamentary poll | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Bulgarians are voting in parliamentary elections with opinion polls predicting no outright winner. | |
Mass protests against low living standards and widespread corruption forced the government of the centre-right Gerb party to resign in February. | Mass protests against low living standards and widespread corruption forced the government of the centre-right Gerb party to resign in February. |
The run-up to Sunday's election in the EU's poorest country has been marked by voter apathy and claims of fraud. | |
On Saturday prosecutors said they had seized 350,000 illegal ballot papers at a printing house. | On Saturday prosecutors said they had seized 350,000 illegal ballot papers at a printing house. |
The election campaign had already been marred by revelations of illegal wiretapping of politicians. | The election campaign had already been marred by revelations of illegal wiretapping of politicians. |
President Rosen Plevneliev appealed to Bulgarians on Sunday to cast their votes to ensure a fair result: "Whatever scenarios exist, they don't stand a chance against millions of Bulgarians who can come out to vote." | |
Polls opened at 07:00 local time (04:00 GMT) and are due to close at 20:00. | |
Latest opinion polls suggest the Gerb party - headed by former Prime Minister Boiko Borisov - and its main challenger the socialist BSP party are running neck-and-neck. | |
Gerb has pledged to keep debts under control while the socialists say they will spend more and create jobs. | Gerb has pledged to keep debts under control while the socialists say they will spend more and create jobs. |
Other parties expected to pass the 4% threshold needed to enter parliament are the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) - which represents Bulgaria's ethnic Turkish minority - the ultra-nationalist Ataka, and the centrist Bulgaria of the Citizens. | Other parties expected to pass the 4% threshold needed to enter parliament are the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) - which represents Bulgaria's ethnic Turkish minority - the ultra-nationalist Ataka, and the centrist Bulgaria of the Citizens. |
However, the prospect of an election with no outright winner has raised fears of a hung parliament and further instability. | |
Bulgaria's 6.9 million eligible voters can choose between 36 parties but turnout is predicted to be below 50%. | Bulgaria's 6.9 million eligible voters can choose between 36 parties but turnout is predicted to be below 50%. |
The BBC's Nick Thorpe in Sofia says that despite the large number of parties competing, it is an election that no-one appears to want to win. | The BBC's Nick Thorpe in Sofia says that despite the large number of parties competing, it is an election that no-one appears to want to win. |
A caretaker government has led Bulgaria since Mr Borisov's resignation in February. | |
The centre-right leader has said he would be happy to go into opposition and BSP leader Sergei Stanishev has said that if his party wins, he will not be prime minister. | |
Bulgaria faces a major economic and social crisis, our correspondent says, with unemployment officially close to 12% but - unofficially - over 18%. | Bulgaria faces a major economic and social crisis, our correspondent says, with unemployment officially close to 12% but - unofficially - over 18%. |
A day before the election, prosecutors revealed they had raided a printing house near the capital Sofia and seized 350,000 ballot papers that were printed over the legally fixed number. | A day before the election, prosecutors revealed they had raided a printing house near the capital Sofia and seized 350,000 ballot papers that were printed over the legally fixed number. |
Mr Stanishev described the discovery as a "scandal". | Mr Stanishev described the discovery as a "scandal". |
He said it showed there had been "preparation for total falsification of the elections". | He said it showed there had been "preparation for total falsification of the elections". |
The discovery triggered a protest by members of some opposition parties outside parliament on Saturday. | The discovery triggered a protest by members of some opposition parties outside parliament on Saturday. |
The election campaign has also been marred by revelations of illegal wiretapping of political opponents, with prosecutors pointing the finger at former Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov. | The election campaign has also been marred by revelations of illegal wiretapping of political opponents, with prosecutors pointing the finger at former Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov. |
More than 250 international observers are monitoring Sunday's election. |