Bulgarians will head to the polls on Sunday for a new parliamentary election, their eighth in just five years, after repeated failures to form a stable government.
The country has been plagued by the political turmoil, allegations of corruption and a captured judiciary, resulting in low trust among voters in their governments and institutions. The turnout at the last election in 2024 was just 39 percent.
For the past four years, campaign billboards have been a familiar sight across Bulgaria, but constant exposure has left many voters with election fatigue, especially as the previous seven elections failed to deliver meaningful outcomes.
However, to some residents in Bulgaria's capital city of Sofia, this round is already beginning to feel different.
"The difference might be that we expect a massive turnout this time. The results to be different than the previous ones. I hope we will achieve something just as the Hungarians did eventually," said Olya Gospodinova, a resident.
The frontrunner in the poll is former president Rumen Radev, with many people believing that he could bring major changes to the country. He resigned in January this year to pave the way for his eligibility in this parliamentary election.
"On the political scene for me it's the ex-president. We expect big changes," said Borislav Ankov, another resident.
Bulgarians to head to polls again in eighth attempt to form government since 2021
Bulgarians to head to polls again in eighth attempt to form government since 2021
