The main candidates running for mayor of Sofia voted both in the local elections and referendum, which are being held simultaneously in Bulgaria on Sunday.

The incumbent mayor Yordanka Fandakova, who is running for a third term as candidate of the largest ruling party GERB, said that each citizen has to exercise the right to vote.

Fandakova noted that under her two terms the city has managed to advance in key spheres and it should continue in this direction of development.

The candidate of the largest opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Mihail Mirchev, expected big surprises at the elections.

Mirchev idenfitied the incumbent mayor Fandakova as his main opponent.

Similarly to the socialist, Vili Lilkov, the candidate of the junior coalition partner – the Reformist Bloc (RB), pointed to the incumbent mayor as being his most formidable opponent.

Lilkov expressed satisfaction with the election campaign in Sofia, describing it as very active, serious, bright and tolerant one.

According to him, all candidates demonstrated good preparation and a good vision for Sofia, behaving in a tolerant way, which at the end would be of benefit to the citizens of the capital.

He wished a bright future for Sofia and expressed hope that the city will become a true European capital as it has not quite yet achieved this status.

Georgi Kadiev, who is supported by the left-wing Alternative for Bulgarian Revival (ABV) after being expelled from the parliamentary group of BSP, voted for a change in Sofia and expressed hope that Bulgaria will become a better place to live in.

Kadiev called on all Bulgarians to vote both in the local elections and the referendum.

You can read more on the stances of the main candidates running for mayor of Sofia here.