In Sofia, the latest round of local elections produced a clear winner from the ruling coalition formed by Continue Change and Democratic Bulgaria. The outcome is supported by data from the Central Election Commission as of the early hours of counting when 15.62% of protocols had been processed. The coalition candidate, Terziev, held a narrow advantage as the figures stood at 49.24 percent of votes to his challenger’s 46.07 percent. A notable share, 4.68 percent, cast a ballot for none of the options listed. This dynamic reflects the ongoing balance of power in the city where urban voters weigh reforms against established political currents.
Elsewhere in Bulgaria’s municipal map, Plovdiv’s mayoral contest shows Kostadin Dimitrov of Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) leading with 60.26 percent after 20.66 percent of the protocols were tallied. In Varna, where 16.51 percent of the results have been recorded, GERB’s incumbent Ivan Portnykh obtained 45.74 percent while Blagomir Kotsev, the candidate representing the Bulgarian political bloc led by DB, held a slight edge at 49.05 percent. The pattern across these cities illustrates a broader trend of competitive races where ruling party affiliates contend with opposition and coalition partners for urban influence and governance mandates.
Overall turnout in the second round of local elections remained modest. At 16:00 on Sunday local time, about 26.4 percent of eligible voters had cast ballots, compared with 23.72 percent in Sofia at an earlier stage of the day. Throughout the day, the Central Election Commission logged numerous complaints alleging irregularities at polling sites, prompting discussions about the integrity of the vote and the confidence of residents in the electoral process. These reports underscore the importance of transparent procedures and consistent monitoring in close municipal contests.
On the foreign front, the Bulgarian government’s foreign policy posture intersected with regional media activity. On November 3, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced the decision to assign Angel Grigorov, chief correspondent for Bulgarian National Radio in Moscow, in response to what was described as pressure against a Bulgarian journalist on Turkish soil. The note cited actions connected to Bulgaria’s stance toward journalists from Russia and the wider media environment surrounding espionage claims raised by Sofia. The development followed earlier statements from Russian officials that NATO’s policies were perceived as antagonistic toward Russian media professionals stationed abroad, reflecting ongoing tensions over information reporting and diplomatic posture.