Bulgarian Socialists' Presidential Ticket Topped Overseas Vote

Socialist presidential runner Ivaylo Kalfin got most of the votes cast by Bulgarians living abroad. Photo by BGNES

Ivaylo Kalfin and Stefan Danailov, presidential and vice-presidential nominees of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) have won the majority of the votes cast by Bulgarians living abroad.

According to data of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), BSP's presidential ticket was supported by 42.85% of Bulgarians abroad (20 686 votes).

Presidential runner of center-right ruling party GERB Rosen Plevneliev and his running mate Margarita Popova were backed by 31.14% of the overseas voters (15 130 votes), independent presidential candidate Meglena Kuneva garnered 11.32% of support (5500 votes), Sali Ibryam from National Movement Unity received 5.38% (2163 votes), Volen Siderov, leader of nationalist Ataka party got 1.95% (949 votes) and independent runner Svetoslav Vitkov obtained 2.02% (982 votes).

Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry opened a total of 161 polling units abroad, most of them stationed in Turkey (41) and in Spain (23).

According to data provided by the Foreign Ministry, a total of 50 499 Bulgarians cast ballots from overseas, most of them living in Turkey (22 418), followed by residents of Spain (6752).

CEC data indicates that Kalfin won the votes of Bulgaria's ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) cast overseas.

The second round of the presidential race, in which GERB's Plevneliev will face BSP's Kalfin, will be held on October 30.

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