Bulgaria's GERB Presidential Bidder with Lead in Latest Poll

Despite the lead of Bulgaria's GERB presidential candidate, Rosen Plevneliev, 58% of respondents in the latest poll believe once in office he will simply follow the orders of the Prime Minister. Photo by BGNES

The presidential candidate of the ruling, center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, party, Rosen Plevneliev, has a significant lead in the latest poll.

The data from the poll was released Sunday by the Mediana polling agency and announced by the Bulgarian National Radio, BNR.

If elections were to be held now – the candidate of the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, former Foreign Affairs Minister, and current Member of the European Parliament, Ivaylo Kalfin, will be second while Bulgaria's first EU Commissioner, formerly from the party of ex Tsar and Prime Minister, Simeon Saxe-Coburg, National Movement for Stability and Prosperity, NMSP, and now independent candidate, Meglena Kuneva, is ranked third.

The recent consolidation of political parties around their nominations has hurt Kuneva's bid since she has no political endorsement, the Mediana data shows. According to the poll's results, Kuneva would have a better chance if she would reach second round. She is also dependent on the Election Day activity of voters who are not politically affiliated.

Despite Plevneliev's lead, 47% of the respondents say the future president must not be from the ruling party while 58% believe if elected the former Regional Minister will actually function as a subordinate, following orders of Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov.

The first three, ranked as best Bulgarian politicians, remain the EU Commissioner on International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva, current President, Georgi Parvanov, and PM Borisov.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!