SOFIA, April 19, 2026 – Bulgaria is holding its eighth parliamentary election in five years today. These snap elections follow the resignation of the previous government in December 2025, amid prolonged political instability and public protests.
Citizens are casting their votes today for a new composition of the National Assembly. Below are the most important figures and facts regarding the electoral process.
Core Election Data
- Total Seats: 240 seats in the National Assembly.
- Governing Majority: 121 MPs.
- Eligible Voters: Approximately 6.6 million.
- Participants: 14 political parties and 10 coalitions, featuring over 4,700 candidates.
- Electoral Threshold: 4% for parliamentary entry.
- Voting Hours: 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM local time.
Organization and Polling Stations
The Central Election Commission (CEC) has organized a total of 12,488 polling stations across the country and abroad.
Within Bulgaria:
In the 11,995 domestic polling stations, the process is distributed as follows:
- Machine Voting: Available in 9,354 stations (primarily in larger sections with over 300 voters).
- Paper Ballots Only: Voting is conducted exclusively on paper in 2,641 smaller sections.
- Mobile Stations: 172 units are deployed for voters with disabilities.
- Special Sections: 25 stations have been opened in hospitals and prisons.
- Video Surveillance: Approximately 11,650 stations are equipped with cameras to monitor the ballot counting process.
Abroad:
The Bulgarian diaspora can exercise their right to vote at 493 polling stations in 55 countries.
- Germany: Leading with 70 polling stations across 40 different cities.
- Turkiye: 27 stations have been opened.
- Restrictions: Due to legal changes for non-EU countries, the number of stations in the UK and the USA is limited to a maximum of 20 outside of diplomatic missions.
- Security: Due to increased security risks, no polling stations were opened in Israel, Lebanon, or Ukraine.
Pre-Election Polls (April 2026)
According to the final pre-election surveys, the primary battle is between the Progressive Bulgaria (PB) coalition, led by Rumen Radev (estimated between 30% and 35%), and Boyko Borisov’s GERB-SDS (supported by 18% to 22%).
Exit polls are expected immediately after polls close at 8:00 PM, while the first official preliminary results will be released tomorrow.
The latest public opinion research conducted by Alpha Research (April 13–15, 2026) shows the following results:
| Political Party / Coalition | Leader | Support (%) | Status |
| Progressive Bulgaria (PB) | Rumen Radev | 34.2% | Confirmed Entry |
| GERB-SDS | Boyko Borisov | 19.5% | Confirmed Entry |
| PP-DB (We Continue the Change) | Assen Vassilev | 11.6% | Confirmed Entry |
| DPS – New Beginning | Delyan Peevski | 9.4% | Confirmed Entry |
| Revival (Vazrazhdane) | Kostadin Kostadinov | 5.8% | Confirmed Entry |
| BSP – United Left | Krum Zarkov | 4.0% | On the Threshold |
| Siyanie | Nikolay Popov | 3.2% | Below Threshold |
| Velichie | Ivelin Mihaylov | 3.0% | Below Threshold |
| MECH | Radostin Vasilev | 2.8% | Below Threshold |
| There Is Such a People (ITN) | Slavi Trifonov | 1.7% | Below Threshold |
Key Takeaways from the Polls
- Radev’s Dominance: The new formation of former President Rumen Radev holds a significant lead and is expected to emerge as the primary political force.
- The 4% Hurdle: Only five parties are guaranteed seats according to the polls, while the Socialists (BSP) are teetering exactly on the edge of the threshold.
- Turnout: Approximately 3.3 million citizens (around 60% of domestic voters) are predicted to vote—an increase compared to recent election cycles.
- Undecided Voters: A high percentage of voters remained undecided until the final days, which could significantly shift the final results compared to pre-election polling.
Prepared by: Xh. Deralla & D. Mishev
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