Bulgaria's political parties yesterday opened a parliamentary election campaign which is seen as a three-horse race. It includes a former king and is overshadowed by conflict in neighbouring Macedonia where the fighting between Macedonian security forces and ethnic Albanian rebels has raised fears of a wider Balkan conflict.
Altogether 59 parties and coalitions have registered to run for the 240-member parliament in the election set for June 17th.
Three are clear front-runners, according to opinion polls: the ruling centre-right Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), the Socialist Party (BSP) of former communists and a coalition formed by ex-king Simeon II.