Rightist GERB holds lead in Bulgarian election - exit polls

By Tsvetelia Tsolova and Sam Cage

SOFIA (Reuters) - The rightist GERB party held the lead in a Bulgarian election on Sunday marred by suspicions of rigging and might be able to control a slim majority in parliament with the help of the nationalists, exits polls showed.

Six years after Bulgaria joined the European Union, disaffection with the political elite is widespread in the country of 7.3 million. Unemployment is close to an eight-year high and one in four lives below the poverty line.

GERB, whose government resigned after violent demonstrations against poverty and corruption in February, was set to win 31 percent of the votes, ahead of the Socialists on 25-27 percent, exit polls by Alpha Research and Sova Harris agencies showed.

Wary of provoking more protests, politicians waged a low-profile campaign and there were relatively few political posters in Bulgaria's towns and villages, where half-finished buildings evoke memories of the credit boom and bust under the 2005-2009 Socialist-led government.

The exit polls showed two other parties with more than the 4 percent needed to enter parliament - the ethnic Turkish MRF, a previous partner of the Socialists, on 10-11 percent, and nationalist Attack on 7-8 percent.

Alpha predicted GERB would win 97 seats in the 240 member parliament and the Socialists 85. With backing from Attack, GERB could potentially control a very narrow majority.

GERB has previously worked with unofficial backing from Attack but it may yet prove difficult for either major party to command a majority, given the bad feeling created after mud-slinging during the campaign.

A delay may raise questions over economic policy and hinder growth - and could ultimately mean a new election.

First official results are due later on Sunday, with an almost complete count due by Monday morning.

PARALLEL COUNT

GERB's campaign has been marred by allegations of illegal wiretapping and the seizure of illegal ballot papers at a printing shop owned by one of its local councilors, which have increased fears of rigging in the Balkan country, notorious for graft and organized crime.

Socialist leader Sergei Stanishev called the discovery an "unprecedented conspiracy against democracy" but President Rosen Plevneliev, an independent who has GERB's backing, told reporters that nobody would be able to get away with cheating.

A survey before the election found that 12 percent of Bulgarians were willing to sell their votes. Because of worries over the process, five parties - not including GERB - have hired an Austrian company to carry out a parallel vote count.

GERB leader Boiko Borisov pledges to keep debt down and maintain economic stability, winning favor from investors, and supporters praise it for building schools and motorways. The Socialists say they will spend more, creating jobs and lifting growth above the 1 percent expected this year.

On Sunday, there was little sign of tension or renewed protests, despite activists' threats of rallies to coincide with the end of polling.

However, deep problems remain in society.

Under GERB, Bulgaria has kept one of the lowest debt levels in the EU to maintain a currency peg to the euro, but its opponents say that has constrained growth in the country where the average monthly wage is 400 euros ($520).

About 2 million Bulgarians have left since the 1989 fall of communism and the country still struggles to supply running water and reliable electricity to some of its people.

Borisov, a heavily built former bodyguard who shot to prominence as mayor of Sofia before securing a sweeping election win in 2009 on an anti-corruption ticket, was cheered by supporters chanting "Victory" as he voted in the capital.

"GERB created so much trouble for three and a half years as did all the other governments in the past 20 years. People are poor, people are discouraged," said Rumen Blagoev, 62, a retired policeman in Sofia. He planned to vote Socialist.

(Additional reporting by Angel Krasimirov; Editing by Alison Williams)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bulgarians-vote-election-unlikely-soothe-anger-040316861.html

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