Bulgaria’s National Assembly voted on July 31 to hold the country’s regular presidential and vice-presidential elections on October 25, 2026, setting up a campaign that will test the ruling majority before the next ballot. If no ticket clears the 50 percent threshold in the first round, a runoff will follow on November 1.
Lawmakers backed the date with 138 votes in favour, none against and seven abstentions, according to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). The resolution was supported by the ruling Progressive Bulgaria, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) and Vazrazhdane, while We Continue the Change abstained. GERB-UDF and Democratic Bulgaria did not take part in the vote.
Under Article 93(4) of Bulgaria’s constitution, if no candidate is elected in the first round, a second vote is held within seven days between the two candidates who received the most votes. A November 1 runoff would fall on the Day of the People’s Awakeners, a national holiday that Democratic Bulgaria said could complicate election logistics.
Yordan Ivanov of Democratic Bulgaria said his party believed the date was chosen by the ruling majority to counter declining public confidence in the government. “In addition, Democratic Bulgaria considers it inappropriate that the second round, which is most likely to take place on November 1, coincides with a national holiday, when Bulgarian schools, community centres and municipalities take part in commemorative events,” Ivanov said.
Petar Vitanov, leader of the Progressive Bulgaria parliamentary group, rejected the criticism, saying Democratic Bulgaria’s representative had agreed to the date during earlier discussions in the Council of Presidents. “This is not an expression of authoritarianism. The date was discussed by the parliamentary leadership, and with the exception of We Continue the Change, which did not sign the joint decision, we all discussed it and agreed that it was the most appropriate option,” he said, adding that the objective was to organise the vote as early as possible and under favourable weather conditions to encourage higher turnout.
The vote came on parliament’s final sitting day before its summer recess, which lawmakers shortened from the standard August 1-31 period to August 5-23, a 19-day break. The 2026 ballot will be held under the Electoral Code as amended by parliament on July 30.
The decision sets the stage for a campaign in which the ruling majority will defend its record against opposition parties including GERB-UDF and We Continue the Change. Democratic Bulgaria argued that the October date was designed to blunt the government’s falling approval ratings, a claim the ruling camp denies.
The presidential election will be closely watched as a barometer of public confidence in the government, and its outcome could reshape the balance of power ahead of the next parliamentary cycle. The government says holding the vote in late October, before winter weather sets in, is intended to maximise participation.
Sources: The Sofia Globe, Novinite, BTA via Armenpress