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Bulgaria election fails to end political stalemate | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Bulgaria's parliamentary election has left the country facing more political uncertainty after a tight finish. | |
The centre-right Gerb party - led by former Prime Minister Boiko Borisov - is narrowly ahead with nearly all votes counted. | |
Gerb won nearly 31%, while the socialist BSP party got about 27%. | |
International observers say the vote was generally well run, but add that scandals and fraud allegations have eroded trust in state institutions. | |
The BBC correspondent in Sofia, Nick Thorpe, says it will be hard for either main party to form a credible coalition. | |
Gerb resigned in February amid protests over living standards and corruption in the EU's poorest country. | |
Voter turnout was barely 50% and the run-up to the election was marked by voter apathy and claims of fraud. | Voter turnout was barely 50% and the run-up to the election was marked by voter apathy and claims of fraud. |
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%. |
'Mafia' chants | 'Mafia' chants |
Election monitors from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said in a statement the vote had been "held in a competitive environment, fundamental freedoms were respected, and the administration of elections was well managed". | |
But they said a pre-election bugging scandal and allegations of ballot paper fraud had "weakened public confidence in the process". | |
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. |
As polls closed on Sunday night crowds rallied outside the election centre at the Palace of Culture in Sofia to protest against any new attempt by Gerb to form a new government. | |
Protesters chanting "mafia" were involved in brief scuffles with police, Bulgarian news agencies said. | |
In order to form a new government, Gerb will need the support of parties that have already declared their opposition to another Borisov-led administration. | |
Two more parties passed the 4% threshold needed to enter parliament - the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), which represents Bulgaria's ethnic Turkish minority, and the ultra-nationalist Ataka. MRF got 10.7% and Ataka 7.4%. | |
Ballot paper 'scandal' | Ballot paper 'scandal' |
President Rosen Plevneliev had appealed to Bulgaria's 6.9 million voters to cast their votes to ensure a fair result. | |
A caretaker government has led Bulgaria since mass protests prompted Mr Borisov's resignation in February. | A caretaker government has led Bulgaria since mass protests prompted Mr Borisov's resignation in February. |
Before Sunday's vote, the centre-right leader had said he would be happy to go into opposition, and BSP leader Sergei Stanishev said if his party won, he would not be prime minister. | Before Sunday's vote, the centre-right leader had said he would be happy to go into opposition, and BSP leader Sergei Stanishev said if his party won, he would not be prime minister. |
The election campaign was marred by revelations of illegal wiretapping of politicians, with prosecutors pointing the finger at former Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov. | |
Then, on Saturday, prosecutors said a printing house near the capital Sofia had been raided with the seizure of 350,000 ballot papers that were printed over the legally fixed number. | Then, on Saturday, prosecutors said a printing house near the capital Sofia had been raided with the seizure of 350,000 ballot papers that were printed over the legally fixed number. |