“The Socialists failed to convince people that they could be an agent of change.” The election was held at a particularly challenging time for Bulgaria, a nation of 7.2 million that has been a EU member for 10 years and a NATO member for 13 years but still maintains close cultural ties with Russia in a balancing act of East and West.
Bulgarians vote to elect a new Prime Minister after the resignation of Boyko Borissov. Opinion polls predict a close contest between Borissov's centre-right GERB and the Socialist Party.