Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

The first round of local elections has ended

Photo: BGNES

At 8 pm local time, the first round of the regular local elections in Bulgaria has ended. According to the Central Election Commission, the voting took place normally and without significant violations.

In Sofia, a run-off between Vasil Terziev (PP-DB, Save Sofia) and Vanya Grigorova (BSP for Bulgaria, the Left, etc.) is emerging. 

There will also be runoffs in Plovdiv - between Kostadin Dimitrov (GERB) and Ivaylo Staribratov (PP-DB), Varna - between Ivan Portnih (GERB) and Blagomir Kotsev (PP-DB), in Blagoevgrad - between Ilko Stoyanov (independent) and Metodi Baikushev (PP-DB). 

In Kardzhali the winner is the MRF candidate Erol Myumyun with 55.8%. Burgas and Stara Zagora are also among the cities in which, according to preliminary data, the mayor was elected in the first round. In Burgas, the previous mayor Dimitar Nikolov won, and in Stara Zagora - Zivko Todorov. Both are candidates of GERB.

The voter turnout in the capital Sofia at 7 pm was 36.0%, in Plovdiv - 33.7%, in Varna - 39.9%, in Blagoevgrad - 55.0%, and in Kardzhali - 39.2%.

In the vote for municipal councilors in Sofia, the leader is PP-DB, Save Sofia  - 40.6%, in Plovdiv GERB leads with 29.7%, followed by PP-DB with 22.1%, in Varna - GERB (22.8% ) and PP-DB (21.8%), in Blagoevgrad - GERB leads with 20.1%, followed by PP-DB - 15.2%, in Kardzhali the MRF clearly leads again with 56%.

The voter turnout for municipal councilors at 7 pm in Sofia was 35.3%, in Plovdiv - 32.9%, in Varna - 40.0%, in Blagoevgrad - 54.5%, in Kardzhali - 39.2%.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Kostadin Kostadinov

Vazrazhdane party to propose law banning politicians sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act from holding high office

Legislative amendments banning individuals sanctioned under the global Magnitsky law from holding senior government or party positions will likely be submitted to Parliament as early as Thursday by the Vazrazhdane party, MP Petar Petrov told BNR...

published on 10/22/25 2:07 PM

The EP Liberals are set to investigate the arrest of the mayor of Varna

The Renew Europe political group in the European Parliament has established a working group to examine instances in which the Bulgarian government may have acted against the rule of law. The move comes in response to what the group describes as..

published on 10/22/25 1:37 PM

Employment in Bulgaria is among the highest in the EU, but over 1 million people are unemployed

As of December 31, 2024, there were 3,765,000 people of working age, or 58.5% of the country's population. Men are 1,970,000, and women - 1,795,000. This was announced by the Deputy Chair of the National Statistical Institute (NSI)..

published on 10/22/25 10:46 AM