Ex-PM Borissov-led GERB-UDF wins Bulgaria snap vote, 7 parties to enter parliament - exit polls

The elections, the country's fourth vote in 18 months, again produced a fragmented parliament with at least seven political formations, out of which minimum three would be needed to put together a coalition government, according to exit polls by Alpha Research and Gallup International Balkan polling agencies, quoted by public television BNT.

The GERB-UFG coalition won 25.2% of the votes for members of the 240-seat National Assembly, according to an exit poll by Alpha Research, and 24.6%, according to the Gallup International.

With some 19% of the votes, We Continue the Change (WCC) party led by Kiril Petkov, which won the previous early election held in November, came in second this time, according to both polling agencies.

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) which is drawing support mainly from Bulgarian ethnic Turk and Muslim voters was third with a little over 14%.

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and populist and staunchly nationalist formation Vazrazhdane (Revival) followed with some 10% each.

The Reformist Democratic Bulgaria coalition won 7.9% of the votes, according to the Alpha Research exit poll. According to Gallup International Balkan, it was backed by 7.4%.

The only other political formation that has a chance the cross the 4% threshold to enter parliament is the populist There is Such a People (TISP) led by musician and TV show host Slavi Trifonov. In the November snap vote TISP won 9.52% of the vote.

Voter turnout stood at some 37%, down from 42% in the November early election, according to Alpha Research.