Bulgaria is preparing to elect its new president on October 25. This election, six months after the parliamentary elections, has become a test for the government of Rumen Radev, which achieved an unprecedented majority with a decisive victory last April.
Competition Between Two Main Candidates
While 27 candidates are participating in the voting, the competition has narrowed down to two main candidates: Iliana Yotova, the current president who has served two terms as Radev's vice president and is supported by the prime minister, and Andrei Gyurov, a former prime minister backed by opposition parties.
According to the Bulgarian constitution, the president is a symbol of national unity and represents the country at the international level. This position also serves as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, appoints members of the Supreme Judicial Council, and has the power to veto legislation.
Security Concerns and Their Impact on the Election
Hristo Panchugov, a political scientist at New Bulgarian University in Sofia, believes that despite official limitations, the presidency holds special significance in the current circumstances. He states: "For the first time in modern democratic history of Bulgaria, we have a completely unchallenged majority formed not by a coalition but by a single political party, while the opposition is completely collapsing."
Security concerns have particularly increased following drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea. Yotova is attempting to establish a "peace coalition" to create a stronger diplomatic voice for ending the war in Ukraine and has emphasized that "no Bulgarian soldiers will go to Ukraine."
However, recent attacks have put new pressure on the president and the "Advanced Bulgaria" party. Boriana Dimitrova, managing partner at Alpha Research Agency, states: "Drone attacks in the Black Sea have brought the geopolitical situation closer to the daily lives of every Bulgarian."
After the first attack, Yotova convened the country's National Security Advisory Council, but the subsequent declaration from this council did not specify the source of the threat in the Black Sea. Radev also stated in his remarks that "there is no strong and clear evidence to attribute blame to any specific party, but logic suggests that the outcome favors Russia."
Changes in Support for Candidates
Recent changes in Yotova's positioning have been impactful, and some polls indicate that her support has decreased. While she still ranks first, her lead over Gyurov has narrowed. Some Bulgarians have also taken to the streets to protest against the government's ambiguous foreign policy.
According to Dimitrova, "We are witnessing a slight decline in support for Iliana Yotova, which in no way threatens her position in the first round, but she has experienced a drop due to ambiguity in her positions." Meanwhile, support for candidates from other parties could also influence the election outcome.
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