Bulgarian parliamentary election
Bulgarian parliamentary elections are nationwide elections held to choose the 240 members of the National Assembly, Bulgaria’s unicameral legislature.
Bulgarian parliamentary elections are nationwide elections held to choose the 240 members of the National Assembly, Bulgaria’s unicameral legislature. Since 2021, Bulgaria has experienced repeated snap parliamentary elections amid prolonged political instability, fragmented party systems, and difficulty forming durable governments.
Electoral system
Bulgarian parliamentary elections fill the 240-seat National Assembly. The election results determine the composition of parliament and the ability of parties or coalitions to form a government.
Recent political context
Since 2021, Bulgaria has faced repeated elections and difficulty forming stable governing coalitions. Coverage of the 2026 election links this instability to anti-corruption protests and the resignation of the previous government.
2026 parliamentary election
The most recent election, held on 19 April 2026, returned a majority for Progressive Bulgaria. The result was widely described as a major shift after years of fragmented parliaments and short-lived coalitions.
Major parties and results
In 2026, Progressive Bulgaria led with about 44.6% and 131 seats, followed by GERB/SDS, PP–DB, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, and Revival. Several smaller parties failed to cross the threshold for representation.
Key facts
- Bulgarian parliamentary elections elect all 240 members of the National Assembly.
- Bulgaria held a snap parliamentary election on 19 April 2026 after the resignation of the Zhelyazkov government in December 2025.
- The 2026 election produced a majority for Progressive Bulgaria, led by former president Rumen Radev, with about 44.6% of the vote and 131 seats.
- GERB/SDS placed second in 2026 with about 13.3%–13.4% of the vote and 39 seats.
- The 2026 election was described as the country’s seventh or eighth parliamentary election since 2021, reflecting a prolonged political crisis.
Canadian readers may encounter Bulgarian election results in international political coverage, especially because Bulgaria is an EU member state whose government affects European Union policy and relations with NATO allies, including Canada.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Bulgarian parliamentary election?
When was the most recent Bulgarian parliamentary election?
Who won the 2026 Bulgarian parliamentary election?
Why has Bulgaria held so many parliamentary elections recently?
How many seats are in Bulgaria’s National Assembly?
What was turnout in the 2026 election?
References
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Bulgarian_parliamentary_electionSupports: Date of election, 240-seat National Assembly, turnout, vote shares, seat totals, and the broader pattern of repeated snap elections since 2021.
- Robert Schuman Foundation — https://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/monitor/6789-rumen-radev-wins-the-bulgarian-parliamentary-elections-does-this-herald-a-stabilisation-of-the-political-situationSupports: 2026 vote shares, seat totals, turnout, and the context of Bulgaria’s political instability.
- Associated Press — https://apnews.com/article/bulgaria-election-radev-borissov-corruption-russia-oligarchs-2f821c5a659a8ca4ab9dfe28b9138236Supports: 2026 result, Progressive Bulgaria’s vote share, GERB’s second-place finish, and the overall political context.
- The Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/19/bulgaria-election-rumen-radev-boyko-borissovSupports: 2026 outcome, seat distribution, and characterization of the election as Bulgaria’s eighth since 2021.
- Al Jazeera — https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/19/bulgarians-head-to-polls-to-elect-parliament-for-eighth-time-in-5-yearsSupports: Context for the 2026 election as the eighth parliamentary vote in five years and the connection to political turmoil.
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_2024_Bulgarian_parliamentary_electionSupports: Recent pre-2026 parliamentary-election context and the ongoing inability to form stable majorities.
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_2024_Bulgarian_parliamentary_electionSupports: Recent parliamentary-election history, seat distribution, and low turnout before the 2026 vote.