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| Bulgaria elections head for tight finish | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Exit polls in Bulgaria's parliamentary elections suggest the centre-right Gerb party of ex-PM Boiko Borisov has a narrow lead over its socialist rivals. | |
| As the polls closed in Sunday's vote, Gerb was projected to win 30-33% while the socialist BSP was on 25-27%. | |
| Protests against low living standards and widespread corruption forced the Gerb government to resign in February. | |
| The run-up to the 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." | 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." |
| Before the polls closed, Bulgaria's central electoral commission said that turnout was down on the last elections in 2009. At 17:30 local time (14:30 GMT) - two-and-a-half hours before the end of voting - 41.3% of voters had cast their ballots. | |
| Opinion polls had indicated that Gerb and the BSP were 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. |
| If the exit polls are correct, Gerb will fall well short of a majority in the 240-seat parliament. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | More than 250 international observers are monitoring Sunday's election. |