6 722 367 Bulgarian nationals were eligible to vote in the general elections. Of these, 53,48% exercised their right to vote. 12 379 polling stations were opened on the day of the elections. Bulgaria opened 345 polling stations for Bulgarian nationals in 72 countries worldwide. From these – 78 were in Turkey, 51 – in the USA, 31 – in Spain, 15 – in Great Britain. For the first time polling stations were opened in New Zealand, Singapore, Iraq and Afghanistan.

On the eve of the parliamentary elections the politicians spoke about Bulgaria, Europe and economic growth. They stressed the country’s membership in the European Union, promised a rise in income and robust economic development. Key addressees of their pre-election campaigns were the young Bulgarian people. The parties tried to reach to the most distant parts of the country, to hold talks with the people and to get involved with their everyday problems and expectations.

NMSII pre-election campaign went under the slogan “Let’s go ahead to be Proud of Bulgaria”. The party TV ads focused on the achievements of the government, they included shots from the signing of Bulgaria’s Treaty of EU Accession, their emphasis was placed on the economic growth, the development of the small and medium-sized enterprises.

Coalition for Bulgaria opted for a positive campaign, which was reflected in its motto – “All for One and One for All”. The key word in it was “change”. One of the aims of the left-wing party was attracting the young generation.

Democrats for Strong Bulgaria launched their pre-election campaign with a visit to the Rila Monastery. Even back then DSB party leader, Ivan Kostov, expressed an opinion that the electorate will primarily focus on the debates. The key message, with which DSB addressed its voters, was: “For Strong Bulgaria in a United Europe”.

The forthcoming membership of Bulgaria in the European Union was also a key accent in the pre-election campaign of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, and their main message was: “We know and we can raise the quality of life of every Bulgarian citizen”.

The United Democratic Forces (UtDF) built their campaign around the slogan “Bulgaria – This is you!” Many times in the course of the campaign, UtDF leader Nadezhda Mihailova, stated, “UtDF are the only guarantee that Bulgaria’s membership in the European Union will not suffer delays.”

Both in their pre-election clips and messages, the leaders of the Bulgarian Popular Union Coalition accentuated on Bulgaria as their cause.

The elections results for Ataka Coalition were not surprising for its MP candidate, Stella Bankova, who explained them with the three years of consistent policy, conducted by the present members of the coalition in the 39th Parliament. She stated that the values her party upholds are the only ones, which coincide 100 per cent with those of a predominant number of the Bulgarian population. According to her, the Kozloduy NPP, the military bases and the restitution of Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha’s royal properties, were among the issues, which sent her coalition in the Parliament.

Answering a question as to whether Ataka’s image resembles that of a fascist party, Bankova replied that a party, which propagates against participation in military conflicts and stands for the equality of all citizens before the law, can by no means be labelled as fascist.

The only rebuff was addressed to MRF for being a non-constitutional party.

Another Ataka leader, Peter Beron, noted the coalition was not against the Roma population. “We want them to study and work on equal grounds with the Bulgarians.”

The first words of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) leader, Sergey Stanishev, immediately after the announcement of the results, were that the winning Coalition for Bulgaria will meet the expectations of its voters. He appealed for immediate consultations to form a government, because the country needs stability and a working cabinet and not preliminary elections. “We extend our hand to all parliamentary forces, syndicates, NGOs, to unite our efforts in doing the necessary. I put my name up for the post of Prime Minister,” Stanishev said.

“The first mandate should be realized with the broad support of the parliamentary groups and of the MPs, who are aware of their responsibility,” the Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Bulgarian Socialist Party Rumen Petkov believes.

Prime Minister Saxe-Coburg-Gotha denounced categorically the opportunity of returning to Madrid. He bound his own political future with the forthcoming political consultations on the formation of the future cabinet. He did not answer directly as to whether he will accept an invitation from the BSP and rather focused on the formation of a broad coalition.

The Movement for Rights and Freedom is an undisputed winner in the elections, MRF leader Ahmed Dogan said. He noted MRF is ready to join Coalition for Bulgaria in its future governance.

The common points in the speeches of the leaders of the right-wing parties was the need to stop the formation of a BSP-led cabinet. Nadezhda Mihailova said there have not been election winners, Ivan Kostov said they would not back up Saxe-Coburg-Gotha’s second term as prime minister, and Stefan Sofiyanski focused on the need of actions to consolidate the right-wing political forces.

At the press conference in the night after the elections, which was his only appearance for the media, the Ataka Coalition leader, Volen Siderov, declared he is not against the EU integration of the country and that he wants to bring back Bulgaria to the Bulgarian people.

The European Commission voiced hope that Bulgaria will rapidly form a government after the parliamentary elections on June 25, 2005.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Resident Representatives in Bulgaria James Roaf said that the international institutions are not alarmed by the difficulties around the formation of a new cabinet in Bulgaria. The International Monetary Fund is satisfied with the stable macroeconomic frame in the country, he said.