SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s largest party GERB declined on Thursday to try to form a new government, opening the way for the rival Socialists to put together a technocrat administration and end a political impasse.

The center-right GERB won most seats in a May 12 election in the European Union’s poorest country but cannot command a majority, as other parties are shunning it after its resignation during protests against low living standards in February.

SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s largest party GERB declined on Thursday to try to form a new government, opening the way for the rival Socialists to put together a technocrat administration and end a political impasse.

The center-right GERB won most seats in a May 12 election in the European Union’s poorest country but cannot command a majority, as other parties are shunning it after its resignation during protests against low living standards in February.

SOFIA, May 18 (Reuters) – Levski Sofia took a huge step towardss securing their first Bulgarian league title since 2009 after going top with a dramatic 1-0 home victory over champions Ludogorets on Saturday.

Captain Stanislav Angelov scored in the second minute of added time of a match that featured 12 yellow cards and one red, giving Ludogorets keeper Vladislav Stoyanov no chance with a 25-metre shot and a fortunate ricochet.

LOVECH, Bulgaria (Reuters) – Beroe Stara Zagora won one of the most dramatic Bulgarian Cup finals on Wednesday with a 3-1 penalty shootout victory over favourites Levski Sofia after a thrilling match ended 3-3 after extra time.

Levski staged a remarkable comeback by scoring twice within seven minutes to overcome a two-goal deficit despite playing with 10 men since the end of the first half but scored only one penalty through Stanislav Angelov.

LOVECH, Bulgaria, May 15 (Reuters) – Beroe Stara Zagora won one of the most dramatic Bulgarian Cup finals on Wednesday with a 3-1 penalty shootout victory over favourites Levski Sofia after a thrilling match ended 3-3 after extra time.

Levski staged a remarkable comeback by scoring twice within seven minutes to overcome a two-goal deficit despite playing with 10 men since the end of the first half but scored only one penalty through Stanislav Angelov.

SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s ethnic Turkish party MRF declined to work with a nationalist party on Tuesday, scuppering chances of a broad coalition government and deepening the political stalemate in the European Union’s poorest country.

The nationalist Attack has emerged as kingmaker after an inconclusive election on Sunday. But its anti-Roma and anti-Turkish policies and pledges of nationalizations may alarm the EU and make it difficult for other parties to work with.

SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgarian parties tried to cobble together a government on Monday after an election delivered a split parliament and left the European Union’s poorest country in political stalemate.

Other parties were reluctant to work with center-right GERB, which won 30.7 percent of votes cast on Sunday and will have first go at forming a government. Nearly complete results showed an unpredictable nationalist group had the balance of power.

SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s centre-right GERB emerged as the winner of national elections on Monday but faced a struggle to form a government, suggesting no early end to the political stalemate that has gripped the European Union’s poorest country.

The party led by Boiko Borisov, which according to preliminary results won 31.4 percent of Sunday’s vote, will have first chance to form an administration.

SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgarians vote on Sunday in an election forced by protests over poverty and corruption, with expectations of a close result that could leave the poorest EU country without a working government.

The rightist GERB party, which resigned after violent demonstrations in February, is running neck-and-neck with the Socialists. GERB pledges to keep debts under control, while the Socialists say they will spend more and create jobs.

SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria has seized 350,000 fake ballot papers, prosecutors said on Saturday, a day before a parliamentary election that is likely to deliver no party a majority and more political turmoil in the EU’s poorest country.

Prosecutors said the ballots were found at a printing house owned by the company of a local councilor from the centre-right GERB whose government resigned from office during protests against low living standards and corruption in February, but which still has a narrow lead in opinion polls.