Iliana Yotova Leads Bulgaria Presidential Polls Ahead of Election
Iliana Yotova leads Bulgaria's presidential race with approximately 43% support, though polling agencies warn of low voter turnout and widespread campaign apathy.
Polling data released ahead of the October 25 presidential election shows Iliana Yotova and her running mate Kiril Valchev leading the race. A survey by Myara for Bulgarian National Radio places the Yotova-Valchev ticket at 43.4% support, while a Gallup International Balkan poll conducted between October 14 and 22 shows them at 43.2%.
Andrey Gyurov and Georgi Kandev follow in second place, with support ranging between 28.9% and 29.7%. Kostadin Kostadinov and Petar Volgin hold third place, with support estimates varying between 10.2% and 12.4%.
Despite the clear lead for Yotova, Gallup International Balkan reports significant voter apathy, noting that 38.7% of respondents find the campaign boring and uninteresting. This disconnect contributes to a projected low voter turnout estimated between 38% and 39.4%. Myara noted that these figures are a snapshot of sentiment and that hundreds of thousands of eligible voters remain undecided.
In preparation for the vote, the Central Election Commission confirmed that all voting machines are repaired and the vote-counting plan is approved. Additionally, Myara data indicates that 67.8% of respondents support expanding the powers of the presidential institution.
