Bulgarians vote with little hope of breaking a political deadlock

SOFIA, Bulgaria — Bulgarians voted Sunday in a seventh general election in just over three years with little hope that a stable government will be formed to stop the country's further slide into political instability.

Voter fatigue and disillusionment with politicians have created an environment where radical political voices, aided by Moscow's widespread disinformation, are successfully undermining public support for the democratic process and boosting the popularity of pro-Russian and far-right groups.

The never-ending election spiral has a serious impact on Bulgaria's economy and its foreign policy. The country risks losing billions of euros in EU recovery funds due to lack of reforms. Full integration into the open-border Schengen area and joining the eurozone are likely to be delayed further.

Pensioner Tsvetan Vladimirov said after casting his vote that changes are needed to put an end to widespread theft and corruption. ''In order for the country to prosper, theft and corruption must be rooted out,'' he said.

There was no clear winner after the latest vote in June, and the seven groups elected to the fragmented legislature were unable to put together a viable coalition. Observers suggest that Sunday's vote will produce more of the same.

Casting his ballot on Sunday, former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov was confident that his party's program is a ''guarantee for security and stability'' and called on voters to support it.

''We've not only shown what we have done and what we will do, but also how we will do it,'' he referred to his three terms at the helm of the government.

The early elections are not expected to break a protracted political stalemate, Teneo, a political risk consultancy, said in a report last week.

Although Borissov's center-right GERB party is set to win a plurality of seats, it will likely struggle to form a majority government in a fragmented parliament, Teneo predicted.

The main pro-Russia party in Bulgaria, Vazrazhdane, which could emerge as the second-largest group in parliament, has so far been isolated in parliament and there are no new signs of future partnerships. The far-right, ultra-nationalist and populist party demands that Bulgaria lift sanctions against Russia, stop helping Ukraine, and hold a referendum on its membership in NATO.

The reformist, pro-EU We Continue the Change/Democratic Bulgaria bloc is tipped to come in third.

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms, which traditionally represented Bulgaria's large ethnic Turkish minority, recently split into two rival factions, one around party founder Ahmed Dogan, and the other behind U.S.-sanctioned businessman and former media tycoon Delyan Peevski. Both factions are tipped to enter parliament.

Up to four smaller groups could also pass the 4-percent threshold for entering parliament, which would even more complicate the forming of a government.

Initial exit poll results will be announced after polls close at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) and preliminary results are expected on Monday.