Polls Show Bulgaria's GERB Party Wins Parliamentary Elections

Exit polls after the October 5 parliamentary elections in Bulgaria show former Prime Minister Boris Borisov's conservative GERB party won the most votes in snap parliamentary elections but not enough to receive an outright majority.

According to preliminary forecasts, GERB took some 34 percent of the ballots, the Socialist Party (BSP) followed with some 16 percent of the vote.

As many as six smaller parties cleared the 4-percent threshold needed to get places in the 240-seat parliament.

The October 5 elections were held some 17 months after the previous polls produced an unstable government led by the BSP and ethnic Turkish MRF party.

Voter turnout was reportedly less than 50 percent, lower than in previous elections.

Official results are expected on October 6.