Polls suggest Bulgaria’s right-wing Gerb party is poised to win this weekend’s parliamentary election as voter frustration over the economic crisis and corruption helped widen its lead over the governing Socialists.
Latest research suggests support for Gerb has risen by four percentage points to between 32 and 36 percent of the electorate.
Backing for the Bulgarian Socialist Party remains virtually unchanged at between 20 and 22 percent.
Around half of Bulgaria’s 7.6 million population are expected to turn out to vote.
The global crisis has hit the country hard, prompting public anger about low living standards and corruption. Recent polls suggest around 80 percent of the population want a change of government.