In brief
On November 1, Bulgaria’s populace went to the polls in a second‑round presidential contest between incumbent President Iliana Iotova (with Kiril Valchev) and challenger Andrey Gurov (with Georgi Kandev). The Interior Ministry logged 415 reports of election‑law violations, mainly vote‑buying, but the day proceeded without major incidents. Exit polls will appear at 8 p.m., with official results expected by Wednesday.
On Sunday, November 1, voters across Bulgaria went to the polls for the second round of the presidential and vice‑presidential election, choosing between the incumbent President Iliana Iotova, backed by Kiril Valchev, and the challenger Andrey Gurov, running with Georgi Kandev, according to Xinhua.
A tightly contested first round on October 25 produced a 34.76% vote for Iotova‑Valchev and 31.95% for Gurov‑Kandev, with 27 candidate pairs participating in the initial contest. The Iotova‑Valchev ticket carries the endorsement of the ruling Progressive Bulgaria party and the Bulgarian Socialist Party, while the Gurov‑Kandev pair is supported by We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria.
Voter eligibility was open to nearly 6.6 million citizens, a figure that underscores the democratic weight of the runoff. Iotova, 62, has served twice as vice‑president, most recently alongside President Rumen Radev, and is scheduled to step down when her five‑year term ends in January 2027. Her background includes two terms in the Bulgarian National Assembly, a stint in the European Parliament, and work on the National Council of the Bulgarian Socialist Party from 2000 to 2016.
Gurov’s résumé reflects a relatively brief political career. He has held temporary office as caretaker prime minister for 78 days earlier that year and has chaired the parliamentary group of We Continue the Change during two legislatures from December 2021 to February 2023. His partner, Kandev, previously served as a career police officer and worked briefly as acting secretary general at the Ministry of Interior.
Valchev, who leads the Bulgarian News Agency, adds a media‑centric dimension to the Iotova ticket, while Kandev’s law‑enforcement experience is mirrored in the Gurov campaign’s emphasis on public safety.
With polls closed, exit‑poll data will be released at 8:00 p.m. (1800 GMT). Xinhua indicates that official results will be finalized no later than Wednesday, a timetable that allows ballots to be counted and validated before the end of the week.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry released a security assessment at 9:53 a.m., reporting that the election day began "politically calm," with no major incidents at polling stations, credited to professional handling by election commissions, according to BTA.
Despite the calm, the ministry logged 415 violation notices before 8 a.m., the majority of which were linked to vote‑buying. At regional directorates there were 97 reports in Burgas, 70 in Vratsa, and 44 in Stara Zagora. In total, 305 violations concerned vote‑buying, 34 were related to unlawful campaigning, one concerned corporate voting, and 75 recorded other election‑related infringements.
Eight criminal proceedings were also initiated in the early hours: two in Kyustendil, and one each in Sofia, Varna, Pernik, Ruse, Stara Zagora, and Shumen. The ministry issued 1,822 warning notices under the Interior Ministry Act, with 437 in Sofia, 267 in Plovdiv, and 226 in Pazardzhik. Further policeman actions included 346 specialized operations to safeguard citizens’ political rights and the detention of ten individuals under the ministry’s authority.
This early vigilance raises questions about the prevalence of illicit conduct ahead of the runoff. While no serious incidents were reported on the day itself, the high volume of violation notices could foreshadow challenges in ensuring a fully transparent process, a concern voiced by election experts who monitor the region.
The run‑off remains a pivotal moment for Bulgaria’s political trajectory. If Iotova secures a second term, she will be the first woman to hold the presidency in independent Bulgaria, potentially guiding the country through its next five years. If Gurov wins, he could usher in a new political era, reflecting a shift toward the progressive and democratic platforms of his coalition.
Observers will keep a close eye on the official tally that is due Wednesday; the upcoming data will be analyzed against the November 8 exit polls and the 415 pre‑poll violation reports, which together will paint a more comprehensive picture of the electoral climate.
