site.btaIf Elections Were Held Now, GERB Would Solicit 26% Support, Socialists 22.4% - Survey

Sofia, February 20 (BTA) - GERB would receive the support of 26 per cent of the adult population and the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) would garner 22.4 per cent, shows a national representative survey of Afis agency conducted between February 8 and 12 among 1,010 adult Bulgarian citizens.

To date, GERB garners the support of 26 per cent of the adult population, a share which was about 30 per cent before 8-9 months (directly before the incumbent cabinet set in). Those ready to vote for the Socialists amount to 22.4 per cent, approximately as many as they were in the summer of 2017 with even a slight increase. The main difference between the two major political forces lies in the fact that GERB is obviously losing voters while the BSP is not adding an essential number, the agency said.

Things with the other political formations are not much different. There is a minimal - but persistent - decline in the case of Volya (2.5 per cent support to date). Social scientists also report a decline in the case of the United Patriots (3.8 per cent) compared to slightly over 6 per cent just several months ago. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) has stabilized its electoral support currently at a little over 7 per cent.

Afis finds an increased share of non-voters and undetermined. Summarily, these are over 35 per cent, which again turns them into the largest (a)political force. Just eight months ago, this share amounted to 25 per cent. Social scientist concluded that there is a general withdrawal of political confidence and increased political apathy among Bulgarian voters observed in the last few months.

On the one hand, we would hardly witness grave interior political dramas before the mid-year end of Bulgaria's EU Council Presidency. At the moment the match is on our turf and we are expecting a pass to score a goal, Afis says.

However, the extent to which this argument can work is indicated by the actions of the coalition partner, which unequivocally lead to two things: mobilization of support among Euroscreptics and smears on Bulgaria's image before European partners, Afis also says.

The agency's data show that within nine months an increasing number of Bulgarians have withdrawn their support for the incumbent cabinet (from 40 per cent in May 2017 to 27 per cent in February 2-18), while the share of those who want immediate resignation and extraordinary elections increases (from 13 per cent in May 2017 to 23 per cent now).The specialists think that confidence in the government is beginning to shake again and the idea of new elections is gathering momentum.