Bulgarian Court Orders Recount of October Parliamentary Election

Bulgaria's Constitutional Court has ordered a full recount of the October 2024 parliamentary election results due to significant voting discrepancies uncovered during an audit, which revealed irregularities in nearly half of the polling stations. This recount poses a risk to the fragile six-seat majority held by former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's coalition government. The court's decision comes amidst ongoing political instability in Bulgaria, marked by seven elections since 2021 that failed to establish a stable government. If the recount leads to changes in seat distribution, it could further complicate the already tumultuous political landscape. Multiple parties had contested the election results at the local level, prompting the court's intervention to ensure electoral integrity. The situation reflects a broader concern in Eastern Europe regarding electoral processes and the impact of political sentiment on governance.