Bulgaria's opposition Socialists were ahead of the ruling centrists of the ex-king prime minister in Saturday's elections but may not have won enough votes to easily form a government, exit polls showed. A Gallup poll for Bulgaria's BTV television gave the ex-communists 32.2 percent of the vote versus 20.5 percent for Simeon Saxe-Coburg's ruling National Movement for Simeon II (NMS).
Three other local polling agencies put the Socialists at 30.7-32.1 percent and the NMS at 19.5-21.1 percent.
If the polls are confirmed by official results, the Socialists could have difficulty forming a majority coalition government to press reforms necessary to take the Balkan country into the European Union in 2007.
Any protracted negotiations and uncertainty could deal a blow to investors betting on convergence with the eurozone and raise further impatience over poor living standards. Entry could be delayed by a year if reforms are not forthcoming.
The Socialists, whose last term in power ended in 1997, have vowed to pursue responsible fiscal policies and redouble efforts to complete preparations for EU membership.
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