2005 Bulgarian parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 25 June 2005, for the 240 members of the National Assembly. According to exit polls, the Socialists had a lead with around 31%, but without a majority, necessitating the creation of a coalition. The National Movement for Simeon II, in power before the election, was in second place, with around 21%. Following the election, Socialist Party leader Sergei Stanishev became Prime Minister.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
All 240 seats in the National Assembly 121 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 55.76% (10.87pp) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At least 6,000 candidates from 22 parties ran for election to the 240-member parliament. The turnout of 56% was the lowest on record. 4% of the votes are needed to gain a seat.
The opposition led the election, but did not gain an outright majority. Sergei Stanishev, leader of the socialist party, stated he would attempt to form a governing coalition. "We won the confidence of the people ... We are ready to form a government ... and we will negotiate with any democratic party," Stanishev said in a press conference.
In the previous five elections held since 1989, no government has been re-elected—each has had to implement stringent economic and social reforms, since the fall of communism, and lost popular support as a result.