Bulgarians are heading to the polls Sunday to cast their ballot in a runoff vote in the fifth local elections since the fall of communism in 1989. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
Bulgarians are heading to the polls Sunday to cast their ballot in a runoff vote in the fifth local elections since the fall of communism in 1989. Polls opened at 6 am local time and are due to close at 7 pm local time.
Mayors would be elected at the run-offs in a total of 33 districts, 1,243 mayoralties and 162 municipalities.
In Bulgaria's seaside city of Burgas as well as in many of the bigger cities, mayoral candidates failed to garner more than 50% for an outright win and will face rivals in the second round of the local vote.
In Burgas, GERB candidate Dimitar Nikolov faces nationalist party Ataka's runner Valeri Simeonov on Sunday.
In Blagoevgrad, the common candidate of the rightist and nationalist formations Radoslav Taskov leads after the first round of the elections with 28.26% of the votes. He is followed by the socialist candidate Kostadin Paskalev (26.35%).
The incumbent Rumen Rashev gained 30,53% of the votes in Veliko Tarnovo and sees socialist nominee Ivan Manchev at the run-offs.
GERB runner Rumen Vidov has garnered 40.52% securing the first place in Vidin. The incumbent Ivan Tsenov is his rival in the run-off.
In Vratsa, the run-off battle is between Voyslav Bubev and GERB candidate Totyo Mladenov.
A second round is also held in the town of Kustendil, where the right-winger Petar Paunov faces off against the socialists' representative Ivan Karakashki.
Run-off will be held in the town of Lovech, where the socialist candidate Mincho Kazandzhiev has gained a lead over the main rival, backed by GERB Party, Anatolii Yordanov, 41.26% and 16.87% respectively.
In northern city of Russe the leader after the first round is the independent runner Bozhidar Yotov (46.15%) ahead of Vanyo Tanov from GERB (23.09%) and the run-off was inevitable.
In Pazardzhik, some 100 south of Sofia, socialist candidate Ivan Evstatiev is the front-runner with 32.58% followed by Todor Popov (27.02%).
Sliven in central Bulgaria witnesses world-famous soccer star, incumbent Yordan Lechkov (37.42%) and socialist Martin Slavov (17.19%) as rivals in the run-off.
The town of Razgrad has candidate Denchop Boyadzhiev (42.93%) competing with Nasko Atanasov (35.73%).
Stara Zagora's incumbent Evgenii Zhelev fights against GERB runner Svetlin Tanchev, who claimed 44.8% and 32.4% respectively at the first round.
In Targovishte, the lead at the first round of the local vote has been taken by Krassimir Mirev (40.7%). He now faces off against Svetlan Petkov (38.63%) at the run-off.
The citizens of the Shumen and Yambol are also casting ballots at a second round.
Under Bulgaria's election law the run-offs are held when none of the runners manages to receive more that half of the valid votes. Then the first two candidates that gathered most of the valid votes on the first round take part in the run-off.
Preliminary results will be available 90 minutes after the end of the voting day.
Bulgaria has banned the use of mobile phones and cameras in polling booths in a bid to prevent the widespread practice of vote-buying.
Mobile phones and cameras are believed to be a key element in the scams, producing the evidence that the vote has been cast for a designated candidate by taking a picture of the ballot paper.
A sign will remind voters that the use of mobile phones and cameras is banned upon entering the polling both.
The Central Election Committee said it relies on the voters' good will to leave the devices before casting a ballot.
Bulgaria's parliament passed last week an amendment that criminalizes the selling of votes and provides for up to one year in prison. Buyers of votes face up to three years in jail.
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