Iotova–Valchev ticket holds commanding lead in presidential election poll

As Bulgaria’s presidential election campaign gets under way, a clear frontrunner has emerged, with one main challenger some way behind. This is according to a nationwide survey by Gallup International Balkan, conducted in late September and early October.

Incumbent President Iliana Iotova and her running mate Kiril Valchev lead with 44.9% support, followed by former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov and Georgi Kandev, who served as acting Secretary General of the Interior Ministry in his cabinet, on 24.8%. The Vazrazhdane party’s presidential ticket of Kostadin Kostadinov and Petar Volgin is third with 10.9%.

The pollsters caution that the outcome of a possible run-off cannot be predicted simply from first-round voting intentions. Much will depend on how supporters of eliminated candidates vote and how effectively the parties mobilise their core voters.

Turnout in the 25 October election is expected to be lower than in the most recent parliamentary vote. The survey projects that between 2.3 million and 2.4 million people will cast their ballots, representing around 36% of eligible voters.

Editor: Diana Tsankova