Bulgaria faces new early elections – we give the floor to citizens of Varna

In 2025, Bulgarian citizens had the opportunity to take a breath after 7 parliamentary votes since 2021, but the spring of 2026 once again confronts us with another early election for members of the National Assembly. "We are waiting for a saviour again. This time, however, it is a week after Easter. It is important for Bulgarians to vote with conscience," a resident of Varna told the Bulgarian National Radio correspondent in the city, Daniela Stoynova, who spoke with citizens about the upcoming early parliamentary elections on April 19.

"Most of the people on the streets of Varna are optimistic - they believe that there will be a higher voter turnout in comparison to the last vote in the fall of 2024, when it was just over 38%. They want no corruption and no oligarchs. The young are more positive, with the exception of one twelfth grader who will definitely seek his luck abroad,” reporter Daniela Stoynova says.

The third largest city in Bulgaria experienced a major shock last year when Mayor Blagomir Kotsev was arrested on corruption charges. The event sparked the discontent of thousands of citizens in different cities of the country, who declared their support for him and even collected the necessary amount for his bail. The mayor was released, but the feeling of political repression increases the political activity of Varna residents.

"The most frequently mentioned political project is the new one of former President Rumen Radev. The expectations are directed towards him: to stop thefts and to bring justice,” Daniela Stoynova summarizes the attitudes among the respondents.

The elections for the 52nd National Assembly will be held in April, a week after Orthodox Easter. And what are the motives with which the citizens of Varna will go to the polls?

"Of course I will vote. I want all people to have good incomes, to feel happy," says a Varna resident, while her fellow citizen adds that she expects fair and transparent elections:

"I hope this time it will be like that, because they are afraid of the former president, who will now participate in the elections,” says the woman, who thinks that more citizens will go to the polls on April 19. “100% of people want something new to happen in their lives. People trust the president and want to vote for someone new.

After the large-scale protests in the fall of 2025, in which young Bulgarians in the country and abroad participated en masse and this led to the resignation of the regular government, now the eyes are once again on the youth, who are expected to be active during the vote:

"Of course we will vote, because the future of our children depends on us someday,” says a 23-year-old Bulgarian woman and expects the next MPs would make sure that "at least it doesn't get worse"

"Ever since I came of age, I have always voted, because my parents have always voted,” adds a 21-year-old woman from Varna. Recently, being politically active is increasingly being accepted by young people. This is good - to be active, to have an opinion. I see the difference in comparison to how my parents think – I can say that maybe they don’t have that much hope right now, even though they continue to vote. I think we are expected to even get angry, to go out to the streets when we don’t like something, to be active.”

Most citizens say that they do not miss voting, but now it is more difficult for them to understand the political situation. Their main wish is “for the MPs to do their job and for the young people to stay in Bulgaria.” However, there are also pessimists among the young people, like the 18-year-old who is firm that he will not exercise his right to vote:

He says that he will not vote because he sees no future and his plan is to seek his fortune abroad as soon as he finishes 12th grade: “There is no development and financial stability here anymore, which is why I would leave Bulgaria.”

Others, however, feel good in this country, although there is much to be desired from politicians. That is why they always vote – like the young family from Varna, who also shared their expectations for Bulgaria after the vote:

"We will vote, we always vote. We want the state to be cleansed of corruption and of the oligarchy. This depends on society. We are active citizens and we go to protests. We feel relatively good, so we only want Bulgaria to move forward."

Interview by: Daniela Stoynova, BNR correspondent in Varna

Editor: E. Karkalanova