Bulgaria's GERB Party Wins Parliamentary Election

U.S. President Joe Biden expressed hope that Israeli air strikes on Iran would de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, following retaliatory attacks that resulted in the deaths of four Iranian soldiers. The strikes were characterized by Israel as precise, targeting military installations rather than oil or nuclear facilities, which could have further escalated global oil prices. Concurrently, Hezbollah retaliated by launching over 200 projectiles into northern Israel, causing property damage but no fatalities. In Bulgaria, the centre-right GERB party, led by Boyko Borissov, secured approximately 26.08% of the votes in a parliamentary election, necessitating coalition talks to form a government amidst ongoing political instability. The reformist We Continue the Change party and the ultra-nationalist Revival party followed with 14.76% and 13.8% of the votes, respectively. Analysts caution that without a clear majority, Bulgaria's political future remains uncertain, with concerns over the ability to effectively govern and address economic challenges.