If the elections for Bulgarian representatives to the European Parliament were held around May 19, GERB would garner 32.4 per cent of the vote of those who would go to the polls, shows a nationwide representative survey of the National Public Opinion Centre (NPOC), conducted between May 16 and 19 among 1,000 people. The data are based on 35 per cent turnout.

Coalition for Bulgaria would attract 26.8 per cent of those who intend to vote, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms 12.1 per cent, Ataka 11 per cent, the Blue Coalition 6.2 per cent, the Order, Lawfulness and Justice party 3.9 per cent, the National Movement for Surge and Stability 3 per cent, Forward 2 per cent, and LEADER 1.8 per cent.

The slight shrinking of the GERB electorate and the increased mobilization of the supporters of the left wing have led to a minor decline in the distance between these two formations, sociologists comment. They note, however, that every election campaign is a dynamic process and more changes can be expected until its end. The campaigns of LEADER with the New Time and of the Forward coalition started later than the rest, so in the following two weeks it can be expected that their supporters will mobilize and their electoral shares will change, the NPOC said.

Some 31 per cent of respondents say that the elections to the European Parliament are very important for them personally. This position is most often taken by people aged over 50, people with higher education, small town residents and politically active respondents. The most motivated to vote are people over 50 and residents of small towns and villages.

Meglena Kuneva is the most liked among all leaders of candidates' lists, the poll shows. Some 48 per cent of respondents approve of Kuneva, who tops the list of the National Movement for Surge and Stability.

Ivailo Kalfin, who heads the list of the left wing, is second in terms of approval among the leaders of candidates' lists - 34 per cent of interviewees like him in this position, most of them supporters of the Bulgarian Socialist Party.

Source: BSE