OMM Newsroom
Bulgaria is holding the first round of its presidential election on Sunday, with 6.5 million registered voters expected to cast ballots amid regional security concerns, rising energy prices and economic uncertainty, Anadolu Agency reported.
The campaign has focused largely on escalating tensions in the Black Sea, where attacks involving drones and commercial vessels have heightened security concerns. Rising energy costs and inflation have also been major issues, particularly for rural residents facing a higher cost of living.
A total of 27 candidates are competing, but opinion polls suggest none is likely to secure the majority needed to win in the first round.
President Iliana Yotova leads the race with 44.5% support, followed by former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov with 26.1%, according to an Alpha Research survey published by the BTA news agency. Kostadin Kostadinov, leader of the nationalist Vuzrazhdane party, is projected to finish third with 10.5%.
Yotova, a former member of the European Parliament, took office in January after Rumen Radev stepped down to enter parliamentary politics. She served as vice president during Radev’s two presidential terms, and her candidacy is backed by the ruling Progressive Bulgaria party, which Radev leads.
Progressive Bulgaria secured a parliamentary majority in the April general elections, paving the way for Radev to become prime minister in May. Opposition parties are backing Gyurov, a former deputy governor of Bulgaria’s central bank.
Runoff expected on November 1
Under Bulgaria’s electoral system, a candidate must receive more than 50% of valid votes, with turnout exceeding 50% of registered voters, to win in the first round.
If no candidate meets those requirements, the two leading candidates will face each other in a runoff next Sunday, November 1. Polls indicate turnout could remain below 40%, making a second round highly likely.
Polling stations are scheduled to open at 7 am local time and close at 8 pm, the Central Election Commission said. Voting may continue until 9 pm if voters are still waiting in line outside polling stations at closing time.
The commission is expected to announce the results within three days of the first round.
