2026 Bulgarian parliamentary election

2026 Bulgarian parliamentary election
19 April 2026
All 240 seats in the National Assembly
121 seats needed for a majority
Party Leader Current seats
GERB–SDS Boyko Borisov 66
PP–DB Asen Vasilev[a] 36
Revival Kostadin Kostadinov 33
DPS Delyan Peevski 29
BSP–OL Krum Zarkov 19
APS Hayri Sadakov 17
ITN Slavi Trifonov 17
MECh Radostin Vasilev 11
Velichie Ivelin Mihaylov 10
PB Rumen Radev 0
Incumbent Prime Minister
Andrey Gyurov
(caretaker)
Independent

Parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in Bulgaria on 19 April 2026 following the resignation of the Zhelyazkov government on 11 December 2025 caused by a series of protests.[1][2] This will be the country's seventh snap election since 2021 as a result of the political crisis affecting the country.

Background

See also: 2021–present Bulgarian political crisis and 2025–2026 Bulgarian protests

The October 2024 Bulgarian parliamentary election produced a minority government headed by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, comprising GERB–SDS, BSP–OL, and ITN, with APS supporting the government in confidence votes.[3] However, as a result of a ruling by the Bulgarian Supreme Court in March 2025, the Veliche party also gained seats, bringing down the coalition to exactly the minimum 121 seats compared to the 119 seats held by the opposition.[4]

Following DPS–NN leader Delyan Peevski's commitment to support the government in case the recalculation resulted in the loss of the government's majority, APS withdrew from the government in April 2025 because they refused to support a government with Peevski.[5][6] The government survived a no-confidence vote days later due to Peevski's support, effectively creating a de facto confidence and supply agreement. In December 2025, the Zhelyazkov Government resigned after weeks of protests against the 2026 budget and corruption within the government.[7][8]

On 18 February 2026, president Iliana Iotova appointed a caretaker government led by prime minister Andrey Gyurov and set a parliamentary election to be held on 19 April 2026.[9]

Campaign

In January 2026, President Rumen Radev resigned from the presidency,[10] forming the centre-left[11] Progressive Bulgaria coalition to contest the election.

Opinion polls

Local regression of polls conducted, excluding "none of the above"

The opinion poll results below were recalculated from the original data by excluding undecided and non-voters. 121 seats are needed for a parliamentary majority and all parties need to pass a 4% threshold (calculated excluding "none of the above" votes) to win seats in the National Assembly.

Polling firm Fieldwork date Sample GERB–SDS PP–DB Vaz. DPS BSP–OL APS ITN MECh Veli. PB Others NOTA Lead
Myara 7–16 Mar 2026 809 19.3
54 		12.9
36 		7.9
22 		10.6
30 		4.1
12 		1.3
0 		1.4
0 		3.6
0 		2.5
0 		30.8
86 		5.6[b] – 11.5
MarketLinks 7–15 Mar 2026 1,006 23.5
70 		15.2
45 		6.2
19 		9.1
27 		3.8
0 		1.6
0 		0.3
0 		3.5
0 		3.4
0 		26.7
79 		6.7[c] 1.8[d] 3.2
Sova Harris 7–12 Mar 2026 1,000 19.3
58 		12.2
36 		6.7
20 		7.1
21 		4.4
13 		1.8
0 		2.2
0 		3.8
0 		2.5
0 		30.9
92 		9.1[e] –[d] 11.6
Alpha Research 23 Feb–2 Mar 2026 1,000 19.7
58 		12.6
37 		6.4
19 		9.6
29 		3.6
0 		1.6
0 		1.2
0 		3.5
0 		1.8
0 		32.6[f]
97 		7.4[g] –[d] 12.9
Gallup 10–28 Feb 2026 800 20.1
61 		11.3
34 		6.2
19 		11.2
34 		3.0
0 		1.0
0 		2.9
0 		3.4
0 		2.3
0 		30.6[h]
92 		8.0[i] 2.7[d] 10.5
CAM 17–24 Feb 2026 1,010 19.8
54 		13.8
37 		8.5
23 		10.8
29 		3.8
0 		0.5
0 		1.3
0 		3.7
0 		1.3
0 		35.3[h]
97 		1.2 1.5[d] 15.5
Trend 12–18 Feb 2026 1,002 20.4
60 		10.9
32 		7.8
22 		10.5
30 		3.8
0 		1.7
0 		2.5
0 		3.6
0 		1.6
0 		32.7[h]
96 		4.5 –[d] 12.3
Myara 9–15 Feb 2026 812 18.9
55 		12.7
37 		6.8
20 		10.7
31 		3.7
0 		1.9
0 		2.1
0 		3.9
0 		2.3
0 		33.3[f]
97 		3.7 1.5[d] 14.4
MarketLinks 7–13 Feb 2026 1,019 18.9
54 		15.3
44 		5.5
16 		12.9
37 		2.8
0 		0.5
0 		1.8
0 		3.1
0 		2.1
0 		31.3[j]
89 		4.0 1.8[d] 12.7
23 Jan 2026 President Rumen Radev's resignation is accepted by the Constitutional Court.
19 Jan 2026 President Rumen Radev announces his intention to resign his post and enter active politics.
MarketLinks 18–29 Dec 2025 1008 24.1
67 		18.9
53 		12.4
34 		12.2
34 		7.3
20 		4.3
12 		3.2
0 		7.1
20 		3.6
0 		– 6.7 3.3[d] 5.2
Alpha Research 5–12 Dec 2025 1009 24.7
70 		20.5
58 		13.4
38 		10.8
31 		5.7
16 		1.9
0 		4.4
12 		4.8
14 		2.4
0 		– 11.4 –[d] 4.5
11 Dec 2025 The Zhelyazkov Government resigns.
MarketLinks 3–7 Dec 2025 1009 24.1
68 		20.9
59 		13.2
37 		12.9
36 		6.7
19 		1.7
0 		3.1
0 		7.5
21 		3.7
0 		– 6.2 –[d] 3.2
Gallup 29 Sep–12 Oct 2025 904 28.3
70 		14.4
35 		13.8
34 		18.1
44 		7.9
19 		1.2
0 		6.0
14 		5.9
14 		4.4
10 		– 3.2 –[d] 10.2
Trend 13–20 Sep 2025 1004 28.4
70 		14.3
35 		14.9
37 		14.5
36 		7.7
19 		2.7
0 		6.1
15 		7.0
17 		4.4
11 		– 6.9 –[d] 13.5
Myara 4–12 Sep 2025 802 28.7
71 		14.8
37 		14.6
36 		14.5
36 		7.1
17 		2.8
0 		5.7
14 		7
17 		4.8
12 		– 6.2 –[d] 13.9
Gallup 11–23 Jul 2025 800 27.5
68 		13.5
33 		14.1
34 		18.6
46 		8.4
20 		1.5
0 		5.6
13 		6.5
16 		4.4
10 		– 6.1[k] –[d] 8.9
Alpha Research 7–14 Jul 2025 1,000 28.3
71 		15.4
38 		12.8
32 		14.6
36 		9
22 		3.1
0 		5.2
13 		7.0
17 		4.6
11 		– 10[l] –[d] 12.9
Sova Harris 9–11 Jun 2025 1,000 25.0
67 		13.9
37 		14.4
39 		8.7
23 		7
18 		5.9
15 		4.5
12 		5.7
15 		5.2
14 		– 9.7 –[d] 10.6
Gallup 28 May – 4 Jun 2025 1,204 25.1
69 		14.5
40 		13.7
38 		16.1
44 		7.2
20 		4
0 		5.2
14 		5.6
15 		3.8
0 		– 4.8 2.3[d] 9.0
Trend 12–18 May 2025 1,001 26.2
71 		13.8
37 		13.5
36 		11.6
31 		6.8
18 		5.8
15 		6
16 		5.9
16 		3.9
0 		– 6.5[m] –[d] 12.4
MarketLinks 18–30 Apr 2025 1,010 25.4
64 		17.2
44 		13
33 		12.9
33 		6.8
17 		6.2
15 		4.3
10 		5.2
13 		4.6
11 		– 4.5 2.9[d] 7.0
17 Apr 2025 DPS–NN supports the government.[12]
Myara 3–13 Apr 2025 807 27.9
67 		15.0
36 		14.0
34 		10.9
26 		7.1
17 		7.5
18 		6.7
16 		6.5
15 		4.5
11 		– 5.2 –[d] 12.9
30 Mar 2025 APS withdraws its support from the government.[13]
MarketLinks 22–30 Mar 2025 1,004 26.3
65 		16.9
42 		12.5
31 		12.8
32 		6.8
16 		7.4
18 		5.1
12 		5.0
12 		5.0
12 		– 2.1 2.5[d] 9.4
Gallup 19–30 Mar 2025 846 25.8
68 		15.4
41 		12.3
32 		16.0
42 		6.6
17 		5.3
14 		5.1
13 		4.8
13 		3.9
0 		– 5.1 –[d] 9.6
Trend 10–16 Mar 2025 1,020 26.7
73 		13.6
37 		12.5
34 		10.9
29 		6.9
18 		6.7
18 		5.9
16 		5.7
15 		3.9
0 		– 7.2[m] –[d] 13.1
13 Mar 2025 The Constitutional Court orders a seat re-calculation and Velichie re-enters the National Assembly.[14][15]
MarketLinks 22 Feb–2 Mar 2025 1,025 25.7
68 		16.0
42 		13.0
34 		13.4
35 		6.8
18 		7.5
19 		4.3
11 		4.9
13 		– – 8.3 2.7[d] 9.7
Gallup 13–20 Feb 2025 841 26.5
74 		11.8
32 		12.6
35 		12.5
34 		8.2
22 		5.9
16 		5.2
14 		4.7
13 		3.8
0 		– 5.0 –[d] 13.9
Myara 6–16 Feb 2025 803 28.2
68 		14.8
36 		14.4
34 		10.8
26 		7.2
17 		7.4
18 		6.8
16 		6.3
15 		4.0
10 		– 5.9 –[d] 13.4
Market Links 25 Jan–3 Feb 2025 1,008 27.5
73 		15.5
41 		13.1
35 		11
29 		6.6
17 		8.4
22 		4.9
13 		4.1
10 		– – 8.9 2.7[d] 12.3
Trend 24–30 Jan 2025 1,003 26.6
73 		13.2
36 		13.0
35 		10.3
28 		6.9
18 		7.1
19 		5.9
16 		5.6
15 		3.8
0 		– 7.6[n] –[d] 13.4
Alpha Research 15–20 Jan 2025 1,000 27.3
71 		14.1
36 		13.8
36 		11.4
29 		8.4
21 		7.9
20 		6.5
17 		4.2
10 		– – 4.9 –[d] 13.2
16 Jan 2025 The Zhelyazkov Government is sworn in.
Gallup Archived 24 June 2025 at the Wayback Machine 8–12 Jan 2025 800 26.6
69 		13.6
35 		14.2
36 		14.1
36 		8.4
22 		6.8
17 		5.3
13 		4.9
12 		3.6
0 		– 2.5 –[d] 12.4
Market Links 12–20 Dec 2024 1,007 27.5
74 		15.4
42 		14.1
38 		12.5
34 		7.7
21 		6.8
18 		4.8
13 		3.6
0 		– – 7.6 2.4[d] 12.1
October 2024 election 27 Oct 2024 N/a 26.4
66 		14.2
36 		13.4
33 		11.5
29 		7.6
19 		7.5
19 		6.8
17 		4.6
11 		4.0
10 		– 4.1 –[o] 12.2
  1. ^ Joint leadership of Vasilev, Ivaylo Mirchev, Bozhidar Bozhanov and Atanas Atanasov.
  2. ^ Including coalition "Siyanie" with 2.3%.
  3. ^ Including Blue Bulgaria with 1.5% and coalition "Siyanie" with 1.3%.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af This poll reported the percentage respondents that do not support any party, or are undecided however the data was recalculated to exclude these percentages.
  5. ^ Including coalition "Siyanie" with 2.9%.
  6. ^ a b Presented as "Rumen Radev's Party".
  7. ^ Including Blue Bulgaria with 1.5%.
  8. ^ a b c Presented as "Rumen Radev's Formation".
  9. ^ Including Blue Bulgaria with 0.9%.
  10. ^ Presented as "Party/Coalition led by Rumen Radev".
  11. ^ Including 1.9% undecided.
  12. ^ Including 6.4% undecided.
  13. ^ a b Including Blue Bulgaria with 1.1%.
  14. ^ Including Blue Bulgaria with 1.2%.
  15. ^ The electoral commission excludes none of the above votes when calculating the percentages received by parties for the purpose of seat allocation.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Bulgaria to hold snap election in April". POLITICO. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  2. ^ "Bulgaria ⁠to hold snap parliamentary election on April 19 after protests". Al Jazeera. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  3. ^ "Bulgaria's parliament approves new coalition government led by centre-right's Rosen Zhelyazkov". AP News. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  4. ^ Kilova, Milena (19 March 2025). "Ще остане ли стабилно управлението след влизането на "Величие" в парламента?". БНТ Новини (in Bulgarian).
  5. ^ "ДПС-Доган реши: Напуска управляващото мнозинство". Mediapool.bg (in Bulgarian). 15 April 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  6. ^ "Това правителство ще оцелее, според лидера на "Величие" Ивелин Михайлов". www.bta.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Bulgarian government collapses after weeks of mass protests". POLITICO. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  8. ^ Henley, Jon; Henley, Jon (11 December 2025). "Bulgarian government resigns after mass anti-corruption protests". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  9. ^ "Bulgarian president appoints caretaker government and sets snap election date for April 19". Associated Press. 19 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  10. ^ Nenov, Stoyan (23 January 2026). "Bulgaria's Radev steps down as president, expected to launch own party". Reuters. Retrieved 23 January 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Atanasova, Maria (3 March 2026). "Antoaneta Hristova: Rumen Radev's "Progressive Bulgaria" takes over the left niche". Fakti.bg. According to experts, Rumen Radev's actions give a categorical signal about the political orientation of the new project, which is aimed directly at the voters of the centenary. "This is a firm message, there is no doubt what it can be. This is a center-left political party. This is the niche that the BSP has gradually vacated," Antoaneta Hristova is categorical.
  12. ^ "Пеевски не вижда проблем със стабилността на кабинета, той ще го крепи". 16 April 2025.
  13. ^ "ДПС на Ахмед Доган оттегля подкрепата за кабинета" (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 30 March 2025.
  14. ^ "Конституционният съд обяви за незаконен избора на 16 депутати, "Величие" влиза в НС". Mediapool.bg (in Bulgarian). 13 March 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  15. ^ "КС обяви за незаконен избора на 16 народни представители, "Величие" влиза в парламента". Bulgarian National Television. 13 March 2025.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.