SNAP ANALYSIS: What centre-right victory means for Bulgaria

By Anna Mudeva

SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgarians, yearning for shelter from the economic crisis and an end to the impunity of corrupt officials, were set to give the center-right opposition GERB party a resounding victory in Sunday's parliamentary elections.

A GERB-led coalition comes to power with Bulgaria's reputation at a low point due to graft and a credit-fueled boom that has turned to bust, problems that have damaged the Balkan state's prospects just two-and-a-half years after joining the European Union.

Exit polls by Sova Harris and Alpha Research suggested GERB would take 115-117 seats in the 240-strong chamber, compared with 39-42 seats for the ruling Socialists.

Here is a look at what the election result means and what may happen:

* GERB, led by straight-talking Sofia mayor Boiko Borisov, will need a governing partner to form a stable government.

* Most likely he will seek a union with a group of rightist parties, known as the Blue Coalition. In the run-up to the election both sides said they were willing to rule together.

* Leaders of the Blue Coalition said after exit polls came out that "they were extending their hand to GERB," while GERB officials said they were awaiting official results before making any partnership decisions.

* Borisov, 50, a former bodyguard-turned-politician, is likely to become prime minister. He shot to fame on promises to clean up the Balkan country's image and put corrupt officials and crime bosses behind bars.