GERB, Socialists Gear up for Vote Faceoff in 12 Bulgarian Cities

Bulgaria's ruling GERB won mayoral seats in four cities during the first round of the October 23 local elections. File photo

After the October 23 local elections, nine Bulgarian regional centers already have mayors elect, according to data from the Central Electoral Commission, CEC, from the counting of ballots by mid-day Monday.

All Regional Electoral Commissions have counted more than 50% of the ballots, in exception of the one in Sofia, OIK, where mass chaos and disorganization are reported.

The CEC data confirms then one from exit polls that Bulgaria's ruling, center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, had won the mayoral seats at first round in four regional centers - the capital Sofia, and the cities of Burgas, Gabrovo and Dobrich, the opposition Bulgarian Socialist party, BSP, has a mayor in Shumen, the nationalist VMRO NIE – in Montana, DPS – in Kardzhali while independent candidates will become mayors of the cities of Pazardzhik and Kyustendil.

In Sofia, Yordanka Fandakova from GERB, was reelected as mayor with 51.5% of the votes against 22.2% for the BSP nomination, Georgi Kadiev.

In the Black Sea city of Burgas, current GERB Mayor, Dimitar Nikolov, scored an overwhelming victory at first round with 70% of the vote against 11% of the runner up – Valeri Simeonov, nominated by the newborn far-right, nationalist Party National Front for Saving Bulgaria, and owner of Scat TV.

In the city of Dobrich current Mayor, Detelina Nikolova, from GERB won with 65.5% against Emiliya Dobreva from BSP with 13.9%.

In Shumen, Krasimir Kostov, from BSP, has won against Dimitar Aleksandrov from GERB.

The new Mayor of Gabrovo is Tanya Hristova from GERB.

In the city of Kardzhali which has a high percentage of ethnic Turkish population, the DPS Mayor, Hassan Azis, has most likely secured a third term in office with 54.5% against GERB's Iliya Iliev with 20.8%. The first exit polls there were forecasting a runoff between the two, which would have been a historic breakthrough since DPS is traditionally winner in areas populated by minorities.

In Montana current Mayor from the nationalist VMRO NIE, Zlatko Zhivko, has won against the GERB nomination, Lyudmil Krastev.

In Kyustendil, the independent candidate, endorsed by Coalition for Kyustendil, Petar Paunov, has a convincing lead of 56% against GERB's Nikola Tatarliev with 20%.

Another convincing victory of an independent candidate was scored in the city of Pazardzhik by Todor Popov, who earned 70% of the vote, against the BSP candidate, Rumen Petkov, with 12.3%.

In 12 regional cities there will be a runoff between GERB and BSP – Blagoevgrad, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Pernik, Razgrad, Sliven, Smolyan, Stara Zagora, Targovishte and Yambol. In Pleven and Ruse, the GERB candidates will face those of the right-wing Blue Coalition.

The closest calls are registered in Smolyan where GERB's Dora Yankova won by 101 votes against Nikolay Melemov from BSP with 100% of the ballots counted; 50 votes separate the contenders for the second spot in the runoff in Silistra – the independent Alexander Sabanov and Tihomir Borachev from BSP while GERB's Yuliyan Naydenov has secured his participation in the runoff, ranking first with 35% of the vote.

In Razgrad, also with a large ethnic Turkish minority population, where 100% of the ballots have been counted, the difference between the current Mayor, Dencho Boyadzhiev, from BSP and GERB's Valentin Vasilev, is 300 votes or 33.4% and 32.3% respectively. The DPS candidate, Hasan Ademov, is third with 25.8%.

In the second largest city of Plovdiv, the current Mayor from the nationalist VMRO NIE party, Slavcho Atanasov, with 26.8%, is going to a runoff against the GERB candidate and current Regional Governor, Ivan Totev, with 32.5%.

In the Black Sea capital of Varna the current Mayor, who was previously endorsed by BSP, and now by GERB, Kiril Yordanov, with 28.7% will face businessman, owner of pharmacies chain, and independent candidate, Veselin Mareshki.

In Stara Zagora, Zhivko Todorov from GERB will face BSP's Boycho Bivolraski; in Veliko Tarnovo – Daniel Panov from GERB will run against Nikola Iliev from BSP; in Pleven the battle will be between Dimitar Stoykov from GERB and Nayden Zelenogosrki, who is the current Mayor of the city from the right-wing Blue Coalition; in Blagoevgrad the winner is Atanas Kambitov, from GERB, followed by Emil Kostadinov from BSP.

The controversial Mayor of Sliven and football legend, Yordan Lechkov, endorsed by GERB, is second and will face Gen. Kolio Milev from BSP; another controversial GERB nomination, the current Mayor of Yambol, Georgi Slavov, is going to run Sunday against Marieta Sivkova from BSP.

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