July 2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election
{{short description|none}}
{{expand Bulgarian|topic=gov|Парламентарни избори в България (юли 2021)|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox legislative election
| country = Bulgaria
| previous_election = Apr 2021
| next_election = Nov 2021
| election_date = 11 July 2021
| seats_for_election = All 240 seats in the National Assembly
| majority_seats = 121
| turnout = 41.63% ({{decrease}} 7.47pp)
| party1 = There Is Such a People
| leader1 = Slavi Trifonov
| last_election1 = 51
| seats1 = 65
| percentage1 = 24.08
| party2 = GERB–SDS
| leader2 = Boyko Borisov
| last_election2 = 75
| seats2 = 63
| percentage2 = 23.51
| party3 = BSP for Bulgaria
| leader3 = Korneliya Ninova
| last_election3 = 43
| seats3 = 36
| percentage3 = 13.39
| party4 = Democratic Bulgaria
| leader4 = A. Atanasov & H. Ivanov
| last_election4 = 27
| seats4 = 34
| percentage4 = 12.64
| party5 = Movement for Rights and Freedoms
| leader5 = Mustafa Karadayi
| last_election5 = 30
| seats5 = 29
| percentage5 = 10.71
| party6 = Stand Up! Mafia, Get Out!
| leader6 = Maya Manolova
| last_election6 = 14
| seats6 = 13
| percentage6 = 5.01
| map = {{Switcher
| x200px
| Most voted-for party by constituency
| x173px
| Seats won by constituency
}}
| title = Prime Minister
| before_election = Stefan Yanev (caretaker)
| before_party = Independent
(First Yanev Government)
| after_election = Stefan Yanev (caretaker)
| after_party = Independent
(Second Yanev Government)
}}{{Politics of Bulgaria}}
Snap parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 11 July 2021 after no party was able or willing to form a government following the April 2021 elections.[https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/bulgaria-faces-fresh-elections-socialists-refuse-form-government-2021-05-01/ Bulgaria faces fresh elections as Socialists refuse to form a government] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508182040/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/bulgaria-faces-fresh-elections-socialists-refuse-form-government-2021-05-01/ |date=2021-05-08 }} Reuters, 1 May 2021 The populist party There Is Such a People (ITN), led by musician and television host Slavi Trifonov, narrowly won the most seats over a coalition of the conservative GERB and Union of Democratic Forces parties. Four other parties (the leftist BSP for Bulgaria, the liberal alliance Democratic Bulgaria, the centrist Turkish minority party Movement for Rights and Freedoms, and the anti-corruption Stand Up! Mafia, Get Out!) won seats in the 240-member Parliament as well.
ITN's success was propelled primarily by young voters. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) assessed the election as being "competitive" and with "fundamental freedoms being generally respected." On 6 September, BSP handed back the last mandate of forming a government, meaning the parliament would be dissolved and a third parliamentary election would officially take place in 2021.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-02|title=Bulgaria faces fresh elections as Socialists refuse to form a government|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/bulgaria-faces-fresh-elections-socialists-refuse-form-government-2021-09-02/|access-date=2021-09-06|website=Reuters|language=en|archive-date=2021-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905234845/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/bulgaria-faces-fresh-elections-socialists-refuse-form-government-2021-09-02/|url-status=live}} President Radev declared on 11 September that there would be '2-in-1' elections on November 14 for the first time in Bulgarian history, where voters will be able to vote on the president and the parliament. This decision was taken 'to save treasury costs and voters time'.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-11|title=Bulgaria's President: Parliamentary and presidential elections will be '2 in 1' on November 14|url=https://sofiaglobe.com/2021/09/11/bulgarias-president-parliamentary-and-presidential-elections-will-be-2-in-1-on-november-14/|access-date=2021-09-11|website=The Sofia Globe|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-09-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911091511/https://sofiaglobe.com/2021/09/11/bulgarias-president-parliamentary-and-presidential-elections-will-be-2-in-1-on-november-14/|url-status=live}}
Background
{{See also|2021–present Bulgarian political crisis}}
The previous election in April saw the ruling GERB party win 75 seats, There Is Such A People (ITN) win 51 seats, BSP for Bulgaria win 43 seats, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms win 30 seats, Democratic Bulgaria win 27 seats and Stand Up! Mafia, Get Out! win 14 seats. After Boyko Borisov of GERB and Slavi Trifonov of There Is Such A People (ITN) were unable to form governments, the BSP stated that they would refuse the mandate to form the government, as the three anti-corruption parties (ITN, Democratic Bulgaria and ISMV) were unwilling to work with them.
Electoral system
The 240 members of the National Assembly are elected by open list proportional representation from 31 multi-member constituencies ranging in size from 4 to 16 seats. The electoral threshold is 4% for parties, with seats allocated according to the largest remainder method.[https://www.idea.int/answer/ans1303551645461599 Electoral system for national legislature – Bulgaria] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707030119/https://www.idea.int/answer/ans1303551645461599 |date=2021-07-07 }} IDEA
Parties and coalitions
=Parliamentary parties=
| class=wikitable style="text-align:left"
! colspan="2" | Party ! Main ideology ! Leader ! Current seats |
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|GERB–SDS}}"|
| GERB–SDS | {{center|75}} |
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|There Are Such People}}"|
| ITN | Populism | {{center|51}} |
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|BSP for Bulgaria}}"|
| BSPzB | {{center|43}} |
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Movement for Rights and Freedoms}}"|
| DPS | {{center|30}} |
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Democratic Bulgaria}}"|
| DB | {{center|27}} |
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Stand Up! Mafia, Get Out!}}"|
| ISMV | {{center|14}} |
===Other parties===
In May 2021, VMRO – Bulgarian National Movement formed an alliance with fellow neo-nationalists Volya Movement and National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria in an alliance called Bulgarian Patriots.{{Cite news|date=20 May 2021|title=Ultra-nationalists, populists form 'Bulgarian Patriots' alliance for July elections|work=The Sofia Globe|url=https://sofiaglobe.com/2021/05/20/ultra-nationalists-populists-form-bulgarian-patriots-alliance-for-july-elections/|url-status=live|access-date=11 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521104427/https://sofiaglobe.com/2021/05/20/ultra-nationalists-populists-form-bulgarian-patriots-alliance-for-july-elections/|archive-date=21 May 2021}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left" |
| colspan="2" | Party
! Main ideology ! Leader ! Current seats |
|---|
| style="color:inherit;background:#292928;" |
| Bulgarian National Union – New Democracy | Boris Ivanov | rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | No seats |
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Bulgarian Patriots}}"|
| Yulian Angelov |
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Revival (Bulgarian political party)}}"|
| Revival |
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Bulgarian Summer}}"|
| Boril Sokolov |
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Republicans for Bulgaria}}"|
| RzB |
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Left Union for a Clean and Holy Republic}}"|
| Nikolay Malinov |
Opinion polls
The opinion poll results below were recalculated from the original data and excludes pollees that chose 'I will not vote' or 'I am uncertain'.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;line-height:14px;" |
| style="height:40px;"
! rowspan="3"| Polling firm ! rowspan="3"| Fieldwork date ! rowspan="3"| Sample ! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"| GERB–SDS ! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"| ITN ! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"| BSPzB ! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"| DPS ! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"| DB ! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"| ISMV ! colspan="3" class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"| BP ! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" style="width:40px;font-size:95%;"| Revival ! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" style="width:40px;font-size:95%;"| BL ! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" style="width:40px;font-size:95%;"| RzB ! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" style="width:40px;font-size:95%;"| Left Union ! rowspan="3" class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"| Others / None ! rowspan="3"| Lead |
| style="font-size:85%;"
! class="unsortable" | VMRO ! class="unsortable" | Volya ! class="unsortable" | NFSB |
| class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|GERB}};"|
! class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|There Are Such People}};"| ! class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|BSP for Bulgaria}};"| ! class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Movement for Rights and Freedoms}};"| ! class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Democratic Bulgaria}};"| ! class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Stand Up! Mafia, Get Out!}};;"| ! class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|VMRO – Bulgarian National Movement}};"| ! class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Volya Movement}};"| ! class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria}};"| ! class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Revival (Bulgarian political party)}}"| ! class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Bulgarian Summer}}"| ! class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Republicans for Bulgaria}}"| ! class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Left Union for a Clean and Holy Republic}}"| |
|---|
| style="background:#D5D5D5;"
|July 2021 election |11 July 2021 |– |23.2% | style="background:#CCE6FF"|23.8% |13.2% |10.6% |12.5% |4.9% | colspan="3" |3.1% |3.0% |1.8% |0.3% |0.4% |3.2% | style="background:{{party color|There Are Such People}}; color:white;"| 0.6% |
| style="background:#EEEFFF"|
|style="letter-spacing:-1px;"|{{nowrap|[https://bntnews.bg/news/parvi-prognozni-rezultati-6-partii-vlizat-v-parlamenta-stotni-delyat-gerb-i-itn-1162099news.html Alpha Research / BNT]}} | data-sort-value="2021-07-11"|Exit polls (20:00) |{{N/A}} | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 23.5% |22.3% |14.1% |11.7% |14.1% |5.5% | colspan="3" |3.2% |2.3% |1.3% |– |0.3% |1.7% | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 1.2% |
| style="background:#EEEFFF"|
|[https://bntnews.bg/news/parvi-prognozni-rezultati-6-partii-vlizat-v-parlamenta-stotni-delyat-gerb-i-itn-1162099news.html Gallup / BNT] | data-sort-value="2021-07-11"|Exit polls (20:00) |{{N/A}} | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 22.1% |21.5% |15.1% |11.8% |13.7% |4.9% | colspan="3" |3.3% |3.2% |2.2% |– |0.3% |1.8% | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 0.6% |
| [https://alpharesearch.bg/post/981-elektoralni-naglasi-na-finala-na-predizbornata-kampania.html Alpha Research]
| data-sort-value="2021-07-07"|4–7 July 2021 |1013 |21.5% | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 21.8% |16.4% |11.1% |12% |5.4% | colspan="3" |3.8% |3.2% |1.2% | – |0.5% |3.1% | style="background:{{party color|There Are Such People}}; color:white;"| 0.3% |
| [https://rctrend.bg/project/%d0%bd%d0%b0%d0%b3%d0%bb%d0%b0%d1%81%d0%b8-%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d0%b1%d1%8a%d0%bb%d0%b3%d0%b0%d1%80%d0%b8%d1%82%d0%b5-%d1%81%d0%bf%d1%80%d1%8f%d0%bc%d0%be-%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d1%81%d1%82%d0%be%d1%8f-7/ Trend]
|3-7 July 2021 |1002 |20.5% | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 21.3% |15.9% |11.3% |12.4% |5.1% | colspan="3" |3.9% |3.1% |1.6% | – |0.8% |4.1% | style="background:{{party color|There Are Such People}}; color:white;"| 0.8% |
| [https://www.gallup-international.bg/44881/current-electoral-snapshot-2/ Gallup]
| data-sort-value="2021-07-07"|30 Jun–7 July 2021 |1010 |20.3% | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 21.3% |15.9% |11.5% |12.2% |6.1% | colspan="3" |4% |3.1% |2.5% | – |1% |2.1% | style="background:{{party color|There Are Such People}}; color:white;"| 1% |
| [https://www.facebook.com/sovaharris/photos/pcb.4155728104546679/4155727471213409 Sova Harris]
| data-sort-value="2021-07-06"|2–6 July 2021 |1000 | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 22.6% |22.1% |16% |10.9% |10.6% |5.3% | colspan="3" |4.5% | – | – | – | – |8% | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 0.5% |
| [https://exacta.bg/?page_id=42 Exacta]
| data-sort-value="2021-07-05"|1–5 July 2021 |1005 | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 21.4% |20.8% |15.8% |11.2% |12.8% |4.8% | colspan="3" |4% |2.8% |1.8% | – | – |4.6% | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 0.6% |
| [https://offnews.bg/analizi/mediana-izbiratelite-na-gerb-sa-namaleli-no-silno-mobilizirani-za-vo-754864.html Mediana]
| data-sort-value="2021-07-02"|{{nowrap|26 June–2 July 2021}} |920 | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 22.5% |21.7% |20.6% |11.1% |10% |5.1% | colspan="3" |4.8% |2.2% | – | – | – |2% | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 0.8% |
| [https://www.nasoca.bg/obschestveni-naglasi-na-blgarite-km-predsrochnite-parlamentarni-izbori-na-11-yuli-2021 Nasoca]
| data-sort-value="2021-06-30"|23–30 Jun 2021 |1025 | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 21.4% |20.5% |15.8% |10.5% |11.3% |5.3% | colspan="3" |4.4% |2.3% |2.1% | – | – |6.4% | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 0.9% |
| [https://blitz.bg/izbori-2021/goreshcho-prouchvane-za-rezultatite-ot-izborite-broeni-dni-predi-vota-tablitsi_news825734.html Specter]
| data-sort-value="2021-06-27"| 24–27 Jun 2021 | 703 | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 21.4% | 19.7% | 14.5% | 10.5% | 12.2% | 5.0% | colspan="3" | 5.2% | 2.4% | 0.9% | 0.5% | 1.3% | 6.4% | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 1.7% |
| [https://www.marketlinks.bg/storage/INFOGRAPHIC%20NRS%20Politics%2006.2021.pdf Market links]
| data-sort-value="2021-06-25"|18–25 Jun 2021 |626 | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 21.8% |20.8% |18.7% |10.5% |13.8% |6% | colspan="3" |3.2% |2.7% |1.4% | – | – |1.1% | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 1% |
| [https://novini.bg/bylgariya/izbori/668133 Barometer]
| data-sort-value="2021-06-23"| 18–23 June 2021 | 860 | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 22.5% | 18.2% | 17.1% | 11.6% | 9.1% | 4.3% | colspan="3" | 6.4% | 1.4% | – | 1.2% | 1.9% | 6.2% | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 4.3% |
| [https://rctrend.bg/project/209520/ Trend]
| data-sort-value="2021-06-18"| 11–18 Jun 2021 | 1,003 | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 21.7% | 20.2% | 16.1% | 10.9% | 11.2% | 5.0% | colspan="3" | 3.9% | 2.3% | 1.9% | – | 1.1% | 5.7% | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 1.5% |
| [https://www.facebook.com/sovaharris/photos/pcb.4101030563349767/4101029686683188 Sova Harris]
| data-sort-value="2021-06-15"| 10–15 Jun 2021 | 1,000 | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 22.4% | 21.7% | 18.7% | 11.4% | 11.1% | 5.4% | colspan="3" | 4.9% | – | – | – | – | 4.4% | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 0.7% |
| [http://www.mediana.bg/download-analysis/PRESS_062021.doc Mediana]
| data-sort-value="2021-06-15"| 10–15 Jun 2021 | 1,008 | 21.4% | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 24.0% | 21.3% | 11.2% | 7.2% | 6.9% | colspan="3" | 5.1% | 1.5% | – | – | – | 1.4% | style="background:{{party color|There Are Such People}}; color:white;"| 2.6% |
| [https://www.gallup-international.bg/44810/current-electoral-snapshot/ Gallup]
| data-sort-value="2021-06-14"| 3–11 Jun 2021 | 1,012 | 21.0% | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 21.2% | 15.9% | 11.9% | 12.1% | 5.8% | colspan="3" | 3.5% | 2.7% | 2.4% | – | – | 3.5% | style="background:{{party color|There Are Such People}}; color:white;"| 0.2% |
| [https://blitz.bg/izbori-2021/drama-mezhdu-gerb-i-itn-i-koshmar-za-patriotite-i-mutrite-tablitsi_news822677.html Specter]
| data-sort-value="2021-06-10"| 5–10 Jun 2021 | 731 | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 21.0% | 19.4% | 14.1% | 10.3% | 11.5% | 4.8% | colspan="3" | 4.8% | 2.8% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1.5% | 8.0% | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 1.6% |
| [https://alpharesearch.bg/post/980-elektoralni-naglasi-na-starta-na-predizbornata-kampania.html Alpha Research]
| data-sort-value="2021-06-07"| {{nowrap|30 May–7 Jun 2021}} | 1,007 | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 20.3% | 18.2% | 14.4% | 9.9% | 11.9% | 5.3% | colspan="3" | 3.4% | 2.8% | 1.1% | – | 1.8% | 10.9% | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 2.1% |
| [https://trud.bg/барометър-българия-46-ото-народно-събрание-ще-е-също-така-фрагментирано-като-45-ото/ Barometer]
| data-sort-value="2021-06-01"| 1–6 Jun 2021 | 840 | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 24.1% | 17.1% | 16.9% | 11.3% | 8.9% | 4.1% | colspan="3" | 6.1% | 1.5% | – | 1.3% | 1.1% | 7.6% | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 7.0% |
| [https://www.marketlinks.bg/bg/news/elektoralnite-naglasi-sled-parlamentarnite-izbori-april-2021-86.html Market Links]
| data-sort-value="2021-05-27" | 19–27 May 2021 | 676 | style="background:#CCE6FF" | 23.7% | 19.8% | 19.3% | 10.6% | 13.3% | 4.8% | colspan="3" | 4.6% | 2% | – | – | – | 2% | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;" | 3.9% |
| [https://www.bgonair.bg/a/2-bulgaria/227787-kakvi-sa-prognozite-za-rezultatite-ot-izborite-na-11-yuli CAM]{{efn|Includes voter-only data.|name=voters|group=}}
| data-sort-value="2021-05-21"| 14–21 May 2021 | – | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 23.8% | 20.9% | 18.0% | 10.5% | 11.4% | 4.4% | colspan="3" | 3.7% | 1.9% | – | – | – | 5.5% | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 2.9% |
| [https://www.gallup-international.bg/44777/electoral-attitudes-snapshot-2/ Gallup]{{efn|Includes voter-only data.|name=voters|group=}}
| data-sort-value="2021-05-14"| 7–14 May 2021 | 812 | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 22.8% | 20.1% | 16.1% | 11.2% | 11.6% | 5.6% | 3.1% | 1.4% | – | 2.6% | 2.8% | – | – | 6.9% | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 2.7% |
| [https://www.marketlinks.bg/bg/news/elektoralnite-naglasi-sled-parlamentarnite-izbori-april-2021-86.html Market Links]{{efn|Includes voters and non-voters.|name=all|group=}}{{Efn|The sum of all percentages is above or below 100.|name=perc|group=}}
| data-sort-value="2021-04-23"| 16–23 Apr 2021 | 1,053 | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 23.2% | 22.3% | 18.1% | 10.3% | 13.1% | 6.5% | 3.3% | – | – | 1.9% | – | – | – | 1.4% | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 0.9% |
| [https://www.gallup-international.bg/44755/new-gorvernment-or-new-elections-hypothesis/ Gallup]
| data-sort-value="2021-04-14"| 12–14 Apr 2021 | 831 | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 27.2% | 23.2% | 13.8% | 10.4% | 12.0% | 4.3% | – | – | – | – | – |– |– | – | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 4.0% |
| style="background:#D5D5D5;"
| data-sort-value="2021-04-04"| 4 Apr 2021 | – | style="background:#CCE6FF"| 25.8% | 17.4% | 14.8% | 10.4% | 9.3% | 4.6% | 3.6% | colspan="2" | 2.3% | 2.4% | 2.9% | 1.3% | 0.5% | 4.7% | style="background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 8.4% |
{{notelist|group=}}
Graphical representation of recalculated data:
{{Graph:Chart
| hannotatonslabel=4% electoral threshold
| hannotatonsline=4
| vannotatonslabel=
| vannotatonsline=
| width = 900
| height= 500
| type = line
| interpolate = basis
| xType = date
| xAxisAngle = -40
| yAxisTitle = % of votes
| yGrid = yes
| yAxisMin = 0
| linewidth = 2
| legend=Legend:
| y1Title=GERB
| y2Title=ITN
| y3Title=BSP
| y4Title=DPS
| y5Title=DB
| y6Title=ISMV
| y7Title=BP
| y8Title=Revival
| y9Title=Bulgarian Summer
| x = 2021/04/04, 2021/04/13, 2021/04/19, 2021/05/10, 2021/05/17, 2021/05/22, 2021/06/02, 2021/06/07, 2021/06/08, 2021/06/12, 2021/06/13, 2021/06/14, 2021/06/21, 2021/06/25, 2021/06/26, 2021/06/29, 2021/07/03, 2021/07/04, 2021/07/05, 2021/07/06, 2021/07/11, 2021/07/14
| y1 = 25.8, 27.2, 23.2, 22.8, 23.8, 23.7, 20.3, 21.0, 21.0, 21.4, 22.4, 21.7, 21.8, 21.4, 21.4, 22.5, 21.4, 22.6, 20.3, 20.5, 21.5, 23.21
| y2 = 17.4, 23.2, 22.3, 20.1, 20.9, 19.8, 18.2, 19.4, 21.2, 24.0, 21.7, 20.2, 20.8, 19.7, 20.5, 21.7, 20.8, 22.1, 21.3, 21.3, 21.8, 23.78
| y3 = 14.8, 13.8, 18.1, 16.1, 18.0, 19.3, 14.4, 14.1, 15.9, 21.3, 18.7, 16.1, 18.7, 14.5, 15.8, 20.6, 15.8, 16.0, 15.9, 15.9, 16.4, 13.22
| y4 = 10.4, 10.4, 10.3, 11.2, 10.5, 10.6, 9.9, 10.3, 11.9, 11.2, 11.4, 10.9, 10.5, 10.5, 10.5, 11.1, 11.2, 10.9, 11.5, 11.3, 11.1, 10.57
| y5 = 9.3, 12.0, 13.1, 11.6, 11.4, 13.3, 11.9, 11.5, 12.1, 7.2, 11.1, 11.2, 13.8, 12.2, 11.3, 10.0, 12.8, 10.6, 12.2, 12.4, 12.0, 12.48
| y6 = 4.6, 4.3, 6.5, 5.6, 4.4, 4.8, 5.3, 4.8, 5.8, 6.9, 5.4, 5.0, 6.0, 5.0, 5.3, 5.1, 4.8, 5.3, 6.1, 5.1, 5.4, 4.95
| y7 = 5.9, , 3.3, 4.5, 3.7, 4.6, 3.4, 4.8, 3.5, 5.1, 4.9, 3.9, 3.2, 5.2, 4.4, 4.8, 4.0, 4.5, 4.0, 3.9, 3.8, 3.1
| y8 = 2.4, , 1.9, 2.6, 1.9, 2, 2.8, 2.8, 2.7, 1.5, , 2.3, 2.7, 2.4, 2.3, 2.2, 2.8, , 3.1, 3.1, 3.2, 2.97
| y9 = 2.9, , , 2.8, , , 1.1, 0.9, 2.4, , , 1.9, 1.4, 0.9, 2.1, , 1.8, , 2.5, 1.6, 1.2, 1.8
| colors = #0056A7, #4BB9DE, #D71921, #800080, #A1C619, #4C813D, #01193B, #C09F62, #F38114,
| showSymbols = 1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1, 1
| symbolsShape = circle
| symbolsNoFill = false
| symbolsStroke = 1.25
}}
Campaign
During the buildup to the April election, Borisov sought to increase his party's share of the rural vote, making campaign stops at small villages in the Rhodope Mountains.{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bulgaria-election-idUSKBN2BP11R |title=Bulgarian PM woos rural voters with infrastructure in tough re-election bid |date=2 April 2021 |last=Tsolova |first=Tsvetelia |website=Reuters |access-date=15 July 2021 |archive-date=16 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716001911/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bulgaria-election-idUSKBN2BP11R |url-status=live }} The April election showed a clear divide between rural and urban areas of the country; towns favored established parties, while Sofia and other cities went predominantly for new opposition parties, including ITN.{{cite web |url=https://www.intellinews.com/balkan-blog-diaspora-voters-set-to-choose-change-in-bulgaria-and-moldova-215181/?source=blogs |title=Diaspora voters set to choose change in Bulgaria and Moldova |date=8 July 2021 |last=Nuttal |first=Grace |website=bne IntelliNews |access-date=15 July 2021 |archive-date=16 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716001913/https://www.intellinews.com/balkan-blog-diaspora-voters-set-to-choose-change-in-bulgaria-and-moldova-215181/?source=blogs |url-status=live }} Reporters predicted these trends would influence the July election as well.
Results
There Is Such a People received the most votes, finishing around 15,000 votes ahead of GERB–SDS. It was the first time that GERB or a GERB-led coalition had not won the most votes or seats since the party's establishment in 2006. Four other parties (BSP for Bulgaria, Democratic Bulgaria, Movement for Rights and Freedom, and Stand Up! Mafia, Get Out!) also won seats.{{Cite news |last=Toshkov |first=Veselin |date=12 July 2021 |title=Anti-elite party earns tight win in Bulgarian elections |work=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/europe-government-and-politics-elections-bulgaria-general-elections-99fe3f6459664e8b61f93c40b9b2e7f8 |access-date=13 July 2021 |archive-date=12 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712141821/https://apnews.com/article/europe-government-and-politics-elections-bulgaria-general-elections-99fe3f6459664e8b61f93c40b9b2e7f8 |url-status=live }} There Is Such a People performed well among young voters, with 37.4% of Generation Z supporting the party and 30.9% of voters aged 30–39.{{cite web |url=https://bnr.bg/en/post/101498059/4-of-generation-z-supports-there-is-such-a-people-party-survey |title=37.4% of Generation Z supports There is Such a People party: survey |date=13 July 2021 |website=Radio Bulgaria |access-date=13 July 2021 |archive-date=13 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713094811/https://bnr.bg/en/post/101498059/4-of-generation-z-supports-there-is-such-a-people-party-survey |url-status=live }} GERB–SDS received high support from voters aged 40–69, and BSP for Bulgaria received high support from voters older than 70.
International observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe said freedoms were respected in the election.
{{Election results
|image=File:July 2021 Bulgaria Parliament.svg
|party1=There Is Such a People|votes1=657829|sw1=|seats1=65|sc1=+14
|party2=GERB–SDS|votes2=642165|sw2=|seats2=63|sc2=–12
|party3=BSP for Bulgaria|votes3=365695|sw3=|seats3=36|sc3=–7
|party4=Democratic Bulgaria|votes4=345331|sw4=|seats4=34|sc4=+7
|party5=Movement for Rights and Freedoms|votes5=292514|sw5=|seats5=29|sc5=–1
|party6=Stand Up! Mafia, Get Out!|votes6=136885|sw6=|seats6=13|sc6=–1
|party7=Bulgarian Patriots|votes7=85795|sw7=|seats7=0|sc7=0
|party8=Revival|votes8=82147|sw8=|seats8=0|sc8=0
|party9=Bulgarian Summer|votes9=49833|sw9=|seats9=0|sc9=New
|party10=Attack|votes10=12585|sw10=|seats10=0|sc10=0
|party11=Left Union for a Clean and Holy Republic|votes11=10309|sw11=|seats11=0|sc11=New
|party12=Republicans for Bulgaria|votes12=8546|sw12=|seats12=0|sc12=0
|party13={{ill|National Union of the Right|bg|Национално обединение на десницата}}|votes13=7872|sw13=|seats13=0|sc13=New|color13=#22204f
|party14=People's Voice|votes14=4741|sw14=|seats14=0|sc14=0
|party15=Bulgarian National Union – New Democracy|votes15=4690|sw15=|seats15=0|sc15=0
|party16={{ill|Freedom (Bulgarian political party|bg|Свобода (партия в България)|lt=Freedom}}|votes16=4304|sw16=|seats16=0|sc16=New|color16=#008135
|party17={{ill|Bulgaria of Labor and Reason|bg|България на труда и разума}}|votes17=3948|sw17=|seats17=0|sc17=New|color17=#FF7530
|party18=Together for Change|votes18=3445|sw18=|seats18=0|sc18=0|color18=#d5b36b
|party19={{ill|Morality, Initiative and Patriotism|bg|МИР}}|votes19=3427|sw19=|seats19=0|sc19=New|color19=#1b4962
|party20={{ill|Party of the Greens|bg|Партия на зелените (България)}}|votes20=3257|sw20=|seats20=0|sc20=0|color20=#048C46
|party21={{ill|Direct Democracy (political party)|lt=Direct Democracy|bg|Пряка демокрация (партия в България)}}|votes21=3143|sw21=|seats21=0|sc21=0|color21=#339967
|party22={{ill|Brigade (political party)|lt=Brigade|bg|Бригада (партия в България)}}|votes22=2187|sw22=|seats22=0|sc22=New|color22=#02AD51
|party23={{ill|Rise (political party)|lt=Rise|bg|Подем (партия в България)}}|color23=#ff0000|votes23=862|sw23=|seats23=0|sc23=New
|party24=Independents|votes24=142|sw24=|seats24=0|sc24=0
|row25=None of the above|votes25=35201|sw25=
|invalid=9342
|total_sc=0
|electorate=6668540
|source=[https://results.cik.bg/pi2021_07/rezultati/index.html CIK], [https://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/3742/ IFES]
}}
=Voter demographics=
Gallup exit polling suggested the following demographic breakdown. The parties which received below 4% of the vote are included in 'Others':
| class=wikitable
! colspan=11| Voter demographics{{Cite web |date=2021-07-12 |title=Демографски профили на вота – 12 July |url=https://www.gallup-international.bg/44927/demographic-structure-of-the-vote/ |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=Галъп интернешънъл |language=bg-BG}} |
| style="width:150px;" rowspan="2" | Social group
! style="width:60px;" class="unsortable" | % ITN ! style="width:60px;" class="unsortable" | % GERB ! style="width:60px;" class="unsortable" | % BSP ! style="width:60px;" class="unsortable" | % DB ! style="width:60px;" class="unsortable" | % DPS ! style="width:60px;" class="unsortable" | % ISMV ! style="width:60px;" class="unsortable" | % BP !| % Revival ! style="width:60px;" rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | % Others ! style="width:60px;" rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | % Lead |
|---|
| class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|There Is Such a People}}; width:60px;" |
! class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|GERB}}; width:60px;" | ! class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Bulgarian Socialist Party}}; width:60px;" | ! class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Democratic Bulgaria}}; width:60px;" | ! class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:#800080; width:60px;" | ! class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Stand Up! Mafia, Get Out!}}; width:60px;" | ! class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Bulgarian Patriots}}; width:60px;" | ! class="unsortable" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Revival (Bulgarian political party)}}; width:60px;" | |
| Exit Poll Result
| style="text-align:right; background:#D4EEF7;" | 22.3 | style="text-align:right;" | 22.2 | style="text-align:right;" | 15 | style="text-align:right;" | 12 | style="text-align:right;" | 10 | style="text-align:right;" | 5 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 8 | style="text-align:right; background:{{party color|There Is Such a People}};" | 0.1 |
| Final Result
| style="text-align:right; background:#D4EEF7;" | 24 | style="text-align:right;" | 23 | style="text-align:right;" | 13 | style="text-align:right;" | 12 | style="text-align:right;" | 11 | style="text-align:right;" | 5 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 6 | style="text-align:right; background:{{party color|There Is Such a People}};" | 1 |
| colspan=10 | Gender |
| Men
| style="text-align:right; background:#D4EEF7;" | 22 | style="text-align:right;" | 21 | style="text-align:right;" | 14 | style="text-align:right;" | 12 | style="text-align:right;" | 12 | style="text-align:right;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 9 | style="text-align:right; background:{{party color|There Is Such a People}};" | 1 |
| Women
| style="text-align:right;" | 21 | style="text-align:right; background:#CCE6FF;" | 22 | style="text-align:right;" | 16 | style="text-align:right;" | 14 | style="text-align:right;" | 9 | style="text-align:right;" | 5 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 7 | style="text-align:right; background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 1 |
| colspan=10 | Age |
| 18–30
| style="text-align:right; background:#D4EEF7;" | 33 | style="text-align:right;" | 13 | style="text-align:right;" | 6 | style="text-align:right;" | 18 | style="text-align:right;" | 10 | style="text-align:right;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 10 | style="text-align:right; background:{{party color|There Is Such a People}};" | 15 |
| 30-60
| style="text-align:right; background:#D4EEF7;" | 23 | style="text-align:right;" | 22 | style="text-align:right;" | 11 | style="text-align:right;" | 15 | style="text-align:right;" | 10 | style="text-align:right;" | 5 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;" | 7 | style="text-align:right; background:{{party color|There Is Such a People}};" | 1 |
| 60+
| style="text-align:right;" | 10 | style="text-align:right;" | 25 | style="text-align:right; background:#F78F8F;"| 31 | style="text-align:right;" | 7 | style="text-align:right;" | 11 | style="text-align:right;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 2 | style="text-align:right;" | 7 | style="text-align:right; background:{{party color|Bulgarian Socialist Party}}; color:white;"| 5 |
| colspan=10 | Highest Level of Education |
| Lower Education
| style="text-align:right;" | 16 | style="text-align:right;" | 10 | style="text-align:right;" | 18 | style="text-align:right;" | 1 | style="text-align:right; background:#FC81FC" | 45 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 2 | style="text-align:right;" | 1 | style="text-align:right;" | 4 | style="text-align:right; background:#800080; color:white;" | 27 |
| Secondary Education
| style="text-align:right;" | 23 | style="text-align:right; background:#CCE6FF;" | 24 | style="text-align:right;" | 17 | style="text-align:right;" | 8 | style="text-align:right;" | 11 | style="text-align:right;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 7 | style="text-align:right; background:{{party color|GERB}}; color:white;"| 1 |
| Higher Education
| style="text-align:right; background:#D4EEF7;" | 22 | style="text-align:right;" | 21 | style="text-align:right;" | 14 | style="text-align:right;" | 21 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 6 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;" | 6 | style="text-align:right; background:{{party color|There Is Such a People}};" | 1 |
| colspan=10 | Ethnic Group |
| Bulgarian
| style="text-align:right; background:#D4EEF7;" | 23 | style="text-align:right;" | 23 | style="text-align:right;" | 17 | style="text-align:right;" | 15 | style="text-align:right;" | 2 | style="text-align:right;" | 5 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;" | 8 | style="text-align:right; background:{{party color|There Is Such a People}};" | 0 |
| Turkic
| style="text-align:right;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;" | 13 | style="text-align:right;" | 6 | style="text-align:right;" | 1 | style="text-align:right; background:#FC81FC" | 71 | style="text-align:right;" | 1 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 4 | style="text-align:right; background:#800080; color:white;" | 58 |
| Roma
| style="text-align:right;" | 19 | style="text-align:right;" | 20 | style="text-align:right;" | 15 | style="text-align:right;" | 2 | style="text-align:right; background:#FC81FC" | 28 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 0 | style="text-align:right;" | 10 | style="text-align:right; background:#800080; color:white;" | 8 |
| colspan=10 | Location |
| Towns and Villages
| style="text-align:right;" | 15 | style="text-align:right;" | 22 | style="text-align:right;" | 16 | style="text-align:right;" | 5 | style="text-align:right; background:#FC81FC" | 29 | style="text-align:right;" | 1 | style="text-align:right;" | 2 | style="text-align:right;" | 2 | style="text-align:right;" | 8 | style="text-align:right; background:#800080; color:white;" | 7 |
| Smaller Cities
| style="text-align:right; background:#D4EEF7;" | 24 | style="text-align:right;" | 22 | style="text-align:right;" | 21 | style="text-align:right;" | 8 | style="text-align:right;" | 9 | style="text-align:right;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;" | 5 | style="text-align:right; background:{{party color|There Is Such a People}} | 2 |
| Larger Cities
| style="text-align:right; background:#D4EEF7;" | 25 | style="text-align:right;" | 21 | style="text-align:right;" | 14 | style="text-align:right;" | 14 | style="text-align:right;" | 2 | style="text-align:right;" | 6 | style="text-align:right;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;" | 4 | style="text-align:right;" | 10 | style="text-align:right; background:{{party color|There Is Such a People}};" | 4 |
| Sofia
| style="text-align:right;" | 16 | style="text-align:right;" | 21 | style="text-align:right;" | 10 | style="text-align:right; background:#CCEAFF;" | 32 | style="text-align:right;" | 1 | style="text-align:right;" | 6 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 3 | style="text-align:right;" | 8 | style="text-align:right; background:{{party color|Democratic Bulgaria}};" | 11 |
Aftermath
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe issued a statement that "Bulgaria's early parliamentary elections were competitive and fundamental freedoms were generally respected. The campaign environment was dominated by mutual accusations of corruption between the former ruling party and the provisional government, as well as by efforts by law-enforcement to curb vote-buying."{{Cite web|title=Fundamental freedoms generally respected in Bulgarian elections, but media shortcomings, lack of issue-driven campaign fail to engage voters, observers say|url=https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/492616|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712143008/https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/492616|url-status=live}}
The elections resulted in a narrow victory for the newly established There Is Such A People (ITN) party over the ruling GERB party. However, ITN won only 65 out of 240 seats in the National Assembly. Following the elections, ITN opted to try and form a minority government and started talks with potential partners (DB, IBG-NI & BSP) in order to secure their support. Nevertheless, these attempts proved unsuccessful and as a result ITN announced on 10 August that they were withdrawing their proposed cabinet, making a third election more likely.{{Cite web|title=Bulgaria's Winning Party Withdraws Proposed Cabinet, Paving Way For New Vote|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-trifonov-new-elections/31402900.html|access-date=2021-08-14|website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty|language=en|archive-date=2021-08-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814042704/https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-trifonov-new-elections/31402900.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2021-08-10|title=Bulgaria Edges Closer to Third Election in a Year|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2021/08/10/bulgaria-edges-closer-to-third-election-in-a-year/|access-date=2021-08-14|website=Balkan Insight|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813112810/https://balkaninsight.com/2021/08/10/bulgaria-edges-closer-to-third-election-in-a-year/|url-status=live}} The leader of ITN, Slavi Trifonov, said in a video statement “This means new elections". The mandate to form a cabinet went to GERB. GERB, the party of the previous prime minister, Boyko Borisov, said earlier "it would not try to form a government". The BSP said that if the scenario repeats itself, it would suggest that the current caretaker cabinet becomes permanent. IBG-NI also expressed confidence that it could come up with a solution if handed the mandate to form a government. Trifonov subsequently announced that he would not support any other parties proposing a cabinet.{{Cite web|date=2021-08-10|title=Bulgaria could be heading for third general election in a year|url=https://www.euronews.com/2021/08/10/bulgaria-could-be-heading-for-third-general-election-in-a-year|access-date=2021-08-14|website=euronews|language=en|archive-date=2021-08-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814222107/https://www.euronews.com/2021/08/10/bulgaria-could-be-heading-for-third-general-election-in-a-year|url-status=live}} Parliament announced on 2 September that Bulgaria would hold the first round of the presidential election on November 14, with a snap parliamentary election likely to take place in the same month.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-02|title=Bulgaria to hold presidential election on Nov. 14|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/bulgaria-hold-presidential-election-nov14-2021-09-02/|access-date=2021-09-02|website=Reuters|language=en|archive-date=2021-09-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902070909/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/bulgaria-hold-presidential-election-nov14-2021-09-02/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2021-09-02|title=Bulgaria will hold November 14 presidential vote amid political crisis|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/bulgaria-presidential-election-politics-crisis/|access-date=2021-09-02|website=POLITICO|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-09-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902115308/https://www.politico.eu/article/bulgaria-presidential-election-politics-crisis/|url-status=live}} On 6 September, the BSP handed back the last mandate of forming a government, meaning the parliament would be dissolved and a third parliamentary election would officially take place in 2021. President Rumen Radev declared on 11 September that there would be 2-in-1 elections on November 14 for the first time in Bulgarian history, where voters would be able to vote on the president and the parliament. This decision was taken "to save treasury costs and voters time".