(Bloomberg) -- Bulgaria’s former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov vowed to form a government after winning Sunday’s election, even as his party fell short of the majority needed to bring an end to almost four years of political paralysis.
Borissov’s Gerb won 26.2% in Sunday’s snap vote, according to official results based on 88% of the ballots counted. But with nine blocs set to enter parliament, he will struggle to cobble together a stable coalition after seventh election since 2021.
The stalemate has already delayed Bulgaria’s plans to adopt the euro to late next year or early 2026 and held up billions of euros in European Union aid to its poorest member state.
Borissov’s main challenger, an alliance running on an anti-corruption platform led by ex-Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, came second on Sunday with 15.1% of vote. The nationalist Revival party, which has repeatedly echoed Kremlin talking points and wants Bulgaria out of NATO, took 13.7%.
Short-lived administrations, both elected and caretaker, have run Bulgaria since anti-graft protests put an end in early 2021 to Borissov’s political dominance that lasted a decade. The Balkan country has repeatedly faced scrutiny from Brussels over corruption in politics and the judiciary.
“We are committed to forming a government,” Borissov told reporters in Sofia on Sunday. His chances of success are “100%, as of today,” he added.
That’s easier said than done. Most parties have repeatedly refused to collaborate with Borissov, leaving him limited options to return to office despite a series of election wins. The former prime minister has faced accusations of mafia ties, which he denies.
“Two parties are not enough” for a ruling majority, Boryana Dimitrova, managing partner at the Alpha Research pollster, told the BNT public TV channel. “They’ll have to look for a third one. The question is which one,” she said.
Borissov vowed on Sunday to work with everyone except Revival due to ideological differences. However, frustration with mainstream parties has boosted Revival’s success — its number of voters has grown fourfold since 2021.
Borissov will be the first to receive a mandate to form a government from President Rumen Radev. If Gerb fails to secure support, the mandate will be offered to the second-biggest party.
Were this to prove unsuccessful as well, Radev — a NATO-trained general known for his Russia-friendly stances — will have to invite another party to form a government before he is obliged to schedule a new election. Analysts don’t rule out another vote next spring.
(Updates with official results starting from second paragraph.)
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