SOFIA (Reuters) – The head of Bulgaria’s largest party said on Tuesday he was convinced his rivals would be able to form a government, indicating a political stalemate that could undermine the European Union’s poorest economy may soon be broken.

Former Prime Minister Boiko Borisov said that while his GERB party would not back the Socialists’ attempts to form a ruling coalition, it would nevertheless lend the next government its support to introduce crucial economic and social measures.

SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev will convene parliament on May 21, in an attempt to have a government formed quickly and end a political impasse in the European Union’s poorest country.

Under Bulgarian law, the president must call the assembly within a month of an election. Only then can he ask the largest group – centre-right GERB – to try to form a government.

SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s GERB party is demanding a rerun of Sunday’s election, blaming illegal campaigning for its failure to win more support, prolonging a political vacuum that would further undermine the European Union’s poorest economy.

Center-right GERB, which won 97 of 240 parliamentary seats and cannot form a majority coalition, was swept from office in February by street protests against low living standards, corruption and organized crime.

SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s president appealed on Wednesday to political parties to hammer out a coalition deal after an inconclusive election at the weekend left the European Union’s poorest country with no clear candidate to form a government.

Bulgaria, plagued by poverty, corruption and organized crime, has been in a state of political paralysis since nationwide protests forced the previous leadership from power, and it risks drifting further until a new government is formed.

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) – The center-right GERB has emerged from Bulgaria’s election as the largest party but it is short of coalition options, and any new government will almost certainly need backing from a nationalist party which alarms the European Union.

GERB, whose leader Boiko Borisov resigned from government in February during nationwide protests in the EU’s poorest country, won most votes in Sunday’s poll but not enough to gain a majority.

SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgarians voted on Sunday in an election marred by suspicions of rigging, with expectations of a close result that is likely to prolong uncertainty in the European Union’s poorest country.

The rightist GERB party, which resigned after violent demonstrations over poverty and corruption in February, is running neck-and-neck with the Socialists. That raises the possibility that neither might be able to form a coalition and could ultimately mean a new election.

SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s two main political parties were making their final attempts to woo frustrated voters before an election on Sunday that is likely to lead to a prolonged period of horse-trading to form a government.

Former bodyguard Boiko Borisov’s center-right GERB was forced to resign in February after thousands of people took to the streets to protest against high utility bills, entrenched corruption and low living standards.

SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s two biggest parties look unlikely to win a majority in Sunday’s election and neither looks capable of forming a coalition, prolonging a power vacuum in the EU’s poorest member that would shake the economy and stir unrest.

Tens of thousands took to the streets in February to protest against corruption, rising unemployment and high utility bills in February, forcing Prime Minister Boiko Borisov and his GERB party to resign in favor of a caretaker government.

VRATSA, Bulgaria (Reuters) – The factories of Vratsa that once fed Bulgaria’s chemical and metallurgical industries and provided jobs are abandoned now. Crumbling buildings and pitted roads add to the city’s gloomy air.

For people like Alexander Angelov, 27, work is hard to find and his thoughts are turning to trying his luck abroad, as many Bulgarians have before him.