Bulgaria’s parliamentary polls are starting to tire voters after the fifth elections within two years again ended in stalemate, renewing set-aside talks for a coalition government.

Ex-prime minister Boyko Borissov’s GERB party scored 26.5 per cent and Continuing the Change (PP), a pro-Western reformist bloc, got 24.9 per cent of at least 96 per cent votes counted so far.

A third contender, supportive of Vladimir Putin’s policies in Russia, the nationalist Revival party came a distant third place with 14.4 per cent, albeit with votes higher than the previously conducted polls.

Mr Borissov had served as a prime minister for more than a decade, between 2009 and 2021 when protests erupted over his alleged corrupt practices.

Main opposition party, Continuing the Change, led by Kiril Petkov and Asen Vasilev has pledged to improve education and healthcare in the country, should their party be elected.

The inconclusiveness of the elections will slow Bulgaria’s effort in adopting the euro and further delay the approval of its 2023 budget bill.

The European nation, until elections are concluded, may be unable to access the EU post-pandemic relief funds, resulting in a major funding shortfall.

Pundits are blaming the inconclusive results on stubborn leaders of the major blocs who may have to consider forming a coalition government 

Citizens are worried that the cost of the elections is taking a toll on the nation’s coffers as the money could be spent on other worthwhile projects.

“A government has to be formed in the end because we have been going to elections now for two years. State funds are being drained to finance these elections, yet they could have been used for entirely different purposes,” Shishman Shishmanov, a financial broker, told Reuters.

All hands are however folded till April 6 when official final results are scheduled to be announced.