Back to the polls in Bulgaria
Sofia, Bulgaria - Bulgarians head to the polls on Sunday to elect what will betheir fifth government in just 18 months. If predictions pan out, the election will bring to power an uncertain coalition government led by a former prime minister whose toppling in February 2013 started the whole cycle.
Many say the situation in Bulgaria, the EU's poorest nation, has only worsened since then.
In February 2013, Bulgaria's centre-right government of Boiko Borisov was forced to resign following mass protests over rising utility costs, austerity measures, and accusations of governmental mismanagement. Since then, three governments have come and gone, victims of instability and a vocal and unhappy population.
The elections on Sunday are meant to draw to a close the political uncertainty, but it is unclear if they will.
"These current elections are crucial for Bulgaria," says Kancho Stoychev, an analyst with pollster Gallup International.
"Political reform is needed. People are tired, they are disgusted by all of the political parties and there are no 'new hopes' on the horizon to galvanise them," he adds.
Political reform is needed. People are tired, they are disgusted by all of the political parties and there are no 'new hopes' on the horizon to galvanise them.
- Kancho Stoychev, Gallup International
In 2013, nightly anti-government protests ran for more than 150 days straight, the longest in the country since the fall of communism 25 years ago.
The political instability has been compounded in recent months by economic failures that included runs on two of Bulgaria's largest banks.
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Back to the polls in Bulgaria