SHOTLIST Sofia 1. Mid of parliament building 2. Mid of election campaign posters on wall 3. Mid of pavement with election campaign posters on wall 4. Mid of people walking along street 5. SOUNDBITE: (Bulgarian) Michailov (no last name given), 53-year-old who retired due to illness: "I expect that some swindlers will come to power again. It would be better if the ones who were before (Boyko) Borisov (Bulgarian Prime Minister between 2009 and 2013) returned to power." (Reporter question: Who are they?) "I mean the socialist party." 6. Cutaway socialist election campaign poster 7. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Michailov (no last name given), 53-year-old who retired due to illness: "The socialists raised pensions, they gave christmas and easter bonuses and what did (Simeon) Djankov (former finance minister) gave to the people? Nothing. " 8. Mid of election campaign poster 9. Close up election campaign poster 10. SOUNDBITE: (Bulgarian) Tsena Ivanova, 65-year-old bulgarian: "I hope that all young people go to the polls and vote for the right people. Then there will be a change for the better ." Lukovit 11. Close of election campaign poster 12. Wide of shop 13. Mid of election campaign poster on tree 14. Mid of shop 15. Close of poster on rubbish bin 16. Wide of posters on trees on national road to Sofia 17. Wide of street showing faded communist flag (flag of Bulgaria from 1946 to 1990) painted on side of building 18. Mid of flag on side of building STORYLINE: A deeply fragmented Bulgaria is preparing for Sunday's parliamentary elections, with public frustration growing over the poor state of the country and its economy. Six years after the former communist country entered into the European Union, the Balkan state of 7.3 (m) million remains the bloc's poorest member, and disillusionment is growing among its people. Many Bulgarians feel squeezed by low wages which are also the lowest in the EU at 400 euros (524 US dollars) a month, and prices that keep rising. They feel betrayed by promises that were made that joining the EU would bring them a better life. Now, more than 22 percent of the people live below the official poverty line. According to official statistics, the unemployment rate is 12 percent, but experts suggest that the actual rate is over 18 percent. For many, the European dream ends up with buying a one-way plane ticket. Nearly 1.5 (m) million, mostly young and well-educated Bulgarians have done so since the fall of communism in 1989. For those who have remained in Bulgaria they face a difficult choice - what party to vote for that might turn the country around. The pre-election campaign has been tense. Bulgaria has been led by a caretaker government since the resignation in February of Boyko Borisov, who guided his centre-right party to victory in 2009 but had to step down amid sometimes violent protests against poverty, high utility bills and corruption. 36 parties and coalitions are running for Parliament, and the lead up to Sunday's election has also been overshadowed by an illegal wiretapping scandal involving the former ruling party. This could fuel apathy and curb turnout to below 50 percent. Borisov's party is expected to come out on top on Sunday, although it may not have sufficient votes to form a government again on its own and has said it won't join a coalition. The latest poll conducted by the Afis agency suggests that that 31.6 percent of voters would support Borisov's party, while the Socialists would gather 28.3 percent. No margin of error was provided, but polls of this type in Bulgaria usually have a margin of error of 3 percent. The first such count since 1990 will be conducted by the Austrian agency SORA (Institute for Social Research and Analysis). You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/75dff46d88c19618871903c1c803de16 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 31 Jul 2015
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