Poll: GERB-UDF 26%, WCC-Democratic Bulgaria and Vuzrazhdane neck-and-neck

Were Bulgaria to hold elections now, Boiko Borissov’s GERB-UDF would get the largest share of votes, 26 per cent among those intending to vote, according to a poll by the Alpha Research agency.

The poll, the results of which were released on January 23, found that the reformist We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria coalition had 13.4 per cent, narrowly ahead of pro-Russian party Vuzrazhdane.

Fourth was Delyan Peevski’s Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning, 10.8 per cent, followed by the Bulgarian Socialist Party – United Left eight per cent, the Ahmed Dogan loyalists of the Democracy, Rights and Freedoms group 7.5 per cent, populist ITN 6.2 per cent and populist-nationalist Mech, four per cent – just at the threshold to win a share of seats in the National Assembly.

Alpha Research said that there were no serious shifts and changes in confidence in political leaders and voting intentions, which were a repeat of the pattern of the October 2024 early parliamentary elections.

“Possible elections would not significantly change the situation, but would certainly help to deepen public disappointment with politicians,” the agency said.

The poll, done in a few days after the Rossen Zhelyazkov coalition government was voted into office by Parliament, found that 69 per cent supported the option of an elected government, while 19 per cent wanted new parliamentary elections.

The Zhelyazkov Cabinet had an approval rating of 39 per cent and a disapproval rating of 29 per cent.

The last elected government to start off with positive initial positions was that of Kiril Petkov, 35 per cent to 23 per cent, while the highest in the past 15 years was the 2009 Borissov government, 47 per cent to eight per cent.

GERB supporters were the firmest in their support for the Cabinet, followed by those of the Dogan faction of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms.

Zhelyazkov had an approval rating of 29 per cent and a disapproval rating of 26 per cent, with 46 per cent undecided.

Head of state President Roumen Radev had an approval rating of 44 per cent and a disapproval rating of 31 per cent.

Alpha Research said that in less than a year, Radev’s approval rating had gone up by five points and his disapproval rating had gone down by seven points.

“One of the prerequisites for this development is that this is the only institution in the country’s governance that has remained without serious turmoil in the past few years,” the agency said.

“The crisis in the political system, the failure of the parties to conduct a dialogue and reach decisions, including the erosion of parliamentary representation, bring bonuses to the head of state, despite his positions on some issues with which sympathizers of various parties do not agree,” it said.

The poll is part of the regular polling by Alpha Research. It was done from January 15 – 20 2025 among 1000 adult citizens from all over the country. It has been published on the agency’s website and was carried out using the agency’s own funds. A stratified two-stage sample with a quota according to the main socio-demographic characteristics was used. The information was collected through a direct standardized interview with tablets at the homes of the respondents.

(Photo: parliament.bg)

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