Based on 61.08% of district election commission tally sheets handled by constituency election commissions, the GERB-UDF coalition won Sunday's parliamentary elections in Bulgaria with 25.32% of the vote, the Central Election Commission (CEC) reported on Monday.

The first wave of data on the outcome of today's general elections in Bulgaria has started to trickle in from pollsters. The figures are based on exit polls conducted outside of polling places.

On Sunday, Bulgaria is holding its first regular parliamentary elections since 2009. Balloting is conducted amidst an unprecedented epidemic emergency, which leaves its imprint on all aspects of the process. The polls opened at 7.00am and will close at 8.00pm. By exception, if voters are still waiting outside the polling site at 8.00pm, voting may continue until 9.00pm.

Seven parties are projected to enter the 45th National Assembly, according to a Gallup International Bulgaria poll commissioned by the Bulgarian National Radio and conducted between 24 and 31 March among 1,013 Bulgarian adults. Based on the results, anywhere between 2.6 and 2.9 million people can be expected to cast their vote. 

Tomorrow, 5 March, is the official kick-off of Bulgaria's general election campaign, which will conclude on 2 April. The regular general elections are to be held on 4 April. Candidates representing 22 parties and eight coalitions will vie for voters' support.

“Good neighbourly relations are an important part of every framework for negotiations, and building them for the future generations (of Bulgaria and North Macedonia) will require restoring mutual trust between the two countries,” said MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk during a joint press conference with North Macedonia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov had a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday. The two leaders agreed to develop closer cooperation and coordination in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The aim is for the two countries to cooperate more actively by exchanging experience and good practices in the fight against Covid-19.

The general elections in Bulgaria will be held on 4 April. This was revealed in a public address made by President Rumen Radev, in which he announced that he had signed an ordinance setting the day of the vote. The head of state essentially scheduled the elections for a week later than the date of 28 March, which he had initially announced.

No expert can say that the pandemic will be over in March, said Prime Minister Boyko Borissov in response to comments on the voting date. He made a surprise appearance at the regular briefing of the National Operative Staff in order to respond to criticism expressed by President Rumen Radev. The measures we employ are the mildest and most sparing for the people's psychological wellbeing, Borissov stated, praising the Staff, and defining it as the most competent.

At the initiative of the head of state, Rumen Radev, the presidency has launched a round of consultations aimed at formulating the necessary steps to ensure fair and transparent election process that will guarantee the health and voting right of Bulgarian citizens.