Presidential elections were held in Bulgaria on 6 November 2016,Global elections calendar NDI alongside a referendum on changes to the electoral system and political party funding. The second round was held on 13 November 2016, resulting in the victory of Rumen Radev.
Electoral system The president was elected using the two-round system.Bulgaria IFES For the first time voters were allowed to vote for none of the above.Bulgaria’s 2016 presidential elections: Voters to have ‘I don’t support anyone’ option Sofia Glove, 9 October 2016
Candidates Incumbent president Rosen Plevneliev announced in May 2016 that he would not be running for re-election.
Official candidates Presidential candidate BornVice presidential running-mate Party Notes Maj.Gen.Rumen Radev (age )Town Dimitrovgrad, Region Haskovo, Bulgaria Iliana Iotova Independent supported by Bulgarian Socialist Party General Radev, the former commander of the Bulgarian Air Force, is supported by the Bulgarian Socialist Party and was originally endorsed by the Alternative for Bulgarian Revival, but on 23 August 2016 the Bulgarian Socialist Party denied plans for a common coalition for the presidential elections. Iotova is an MP in the European Parliament. Tsetska Tsacheva (age )Village Dragana, Municipality Ugarchin, Region Lovech, BulgariaPlamen Manushev GERB Tsacheva is the incumbent Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Bulgaria. Manushev is MP. Krasimir Karakachanov (age )Rousse, BulgariaYavor Notev United Patriots Karachanov is co-chairman of the Patriotic Front and a Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly. Notev is the Deputy Chair of the Attack party and a Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly. Traycho Traykov (age )Sofia, BulgariaSabi Sabev Reformist Bloc Traykov is the former Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism and is currently a municipal councilor in Sofia.Traicho Traikov is the Reformist Bloc's presidential candidate BNT, 1 September 2016 Sabev is a general in the Bulgarian army. Ivaylo Kalfin (age )Sofia, BulgariaLyubomir Halachev Kalfin President Coalition Kalfin is a Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Former Minister of Labour and Social Policy, as well as the BSP presidential candidate in the 2011 election. Tatyana Doncheva (age )Tryavna, BulgariaMincho Spasov Movement 21National Movement for Stability and Progress Doncheva is a jurist and a former MP; Spasov is a jurist and former MP. Plamen Oresharski (age )Dupnitsa, BulgariaDanail Papazov Independent supported by Movement for Rights and Freedoms Oresharski is a former Prime Minister of Bulgaria; Papazov is a former minister of Transport. George Ganchev (age )Plovdiv, Bulgaria Kolyo Paramov Christian Social Union Ganchev is a former MP and three-time presidential candidate. Paramov is an economist and former MP. Velizar Enchev (age )Galabovo, BulgariaBilyana Grancharova Movement for Radical Change Bulgarian Spring Enchev is an independent MP; Grancharova is a jurist. Veselin Mareshki (age )Varna, BulgariaPetar Petrov Independent Mareshki is a businessman. Dimitar Marinov (age )Karaisen, BulgariaRadoslav Petrov (aka Rado Shisharkata) Bulgarian National Unification Marinov (known as Mityo The Pistol) is a popular entertainer and reality show star, having appeared in VIP Brother 1, a spinoff of the Big Brother franchise; Petrov (known as Rado the Fircone) is a pop-folk singer. Vladimir Kuzov (age )Sofia, Bulgaria Borislav Noev Independent Kuzov and Noev are former MPs from the union around the Attack party;Their registration in the elections was denied due to insufficient number of signatures gathered. Aleksandar Tomov (age )Sofia, Bulgaria Radoslav Radoslavov Bulgarian Socialdemocratic-Euroleft Tomov is a businessman. Gospodin Tonev (age )Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria Andrey Andreev Bulgarian Democratic Community Kamen Popov BulgariaGeorgi Nedelchev Independent Popov is a businessman, sportsman. Popov struck the leader of Attack party Volen Siderov. Svetoslav Vitkov (age )Sofia, Bulgaria Ivan Velkov Independent supported by People's VoiceThe Greens Vitkov is a musician, and a municipal councilor in Sofia; Velkov is a Deputy Chairman of the municipal councilor in Sofia.Their registration in the elections was denied due to insufficient number of signatures gathered. Kemil Ramadan BulgariaMomchil Dobrev Balkanic Democratic League Nikolay Banev (age )Lyubimets, Bulgaria Sali Ibrayim Independent Banev is a businessman; Ibrayim is a former mayor of Momchilgrad. Biser Milanov BulgariaKrasimir Nastev Independent Milanov is a recidivist; Nastev is a businessman. Diana Dimitrova Bulgaria Gabriel Gerasimov Independent Yordanka Koleva Bulgaria Veselin Hristov Independent Plamen Paskov Bulgaria Svetozar Saev Independent Rumen Galabinov Bulgaria Veska Voleva Independent
Declined Candidate Born Party Notes President Rosen Plevneliev (age )Town Gotse Delchev, Region Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria Independent Prime Minister Boyko Borisov (age )Town Bankya, Region Sofia, Bulgaria GERB Endorsed Tsetska TsachevaBulgaria's PM to Run for President in 5 Years Novinite, 1 September 2016
Opinion polls First round
PollsterDateRadevTsachevaKarakachanovMareshkiOresharskiTraykovKalfinOthersMarket Links 4 October 2016 14.919.87.9–1.14.55.446.4Mediana 8 October 2016 1825.49.93.21.34.26.131.9Gallup International 12 October 2016 15.119.27.24.71.35.24.942.4Alpha Research 13 October 2016 21.429.38.73.30.55.06.825TSAM 22 October 2016 22329.15.32.85.66.316.9IMP 22 October 2016 21.126.69.7–1.84.98.627.3Gallup International 25 October 2016 16.320.28.153.85.25.336.1Market Links 30 October 2016 18.119.48.54.32.23.83.540.2Online Solutions 3 November 2016 181916–––1532Barometre Bulgaria 3 November 2016 14.419.319.14.44.84.64.229.2
Second round PollsterDateRadevTsachevaOthersGallup International 12 October 2016 29.626.444Alpha Research 13 October 2016 31.332.636.1Sova Harris 15 October 2016 37.838.723.5TSAM 22 October 2016 414316Gallup International 25 October 2016 32.131.336.6Market Links 30 October 2016 30.72544.3Mediana 31 October 2016 37.236.226.6
PollsterDateRadevKarakachanovOthersMarket Links 30 October 2016 27.226.146.7
PollsterDateTsachevaKarakachanovOthersAlpha Research 13 October 2016 31.325.143.4
Results
Voter demographics Gallup exit polling suggested the following demographic breakdown.
Voter Demographics Social group % Radev % Tsacheva % Karakachanov % Mareshki % Oresharski % Traykov % Kalfin % Others % Lead Exit Poll Result 26 22 15 11 6 7 4 9 4 Final Result 25.4 22.0 15.0 11.2 6.6 5.9 3.3 10.5 3.4 Gender Men 26 21 16 12 6 6 4 9 5 Women 27 23 14 9 6 7 4 10 4 Age 18–30 19 20 11 15 7 10 3 15 1 30-60 23 23 15 11 6 8 4 10 0 60+ 39 21 17 6 6 4 5 2 18 Highest Level of Education Lower Education 29 24 8 10 15 1 4 9 5 Secondary Education 24 23 16 12 6 4 3 10 1 Higher Education 28 20 15 9 2 12 4 10 8 Ethnic Group Bulgarian - 88% 28 22 17 11 1 8 5 8 6 Turkish - 9% 7 19 1 13 44 1 2 13 25 Roma - 3% 27 36 7 9 8 2 4 7 9 Location Towns and Villages 25 25 11 9 18 2 3 7 0 Smaller Cities 29 24 18 12 3 5 3 6 5 Larger Cities 27 21 16 12 1 7 4 12 6 Sofia 24 20 16 6 1 16 5 12 4
Aftermath Following the results of the second round, Prime Minister and GERB leader Boiko Borisov tendered his resignation.Bulgarian PM Borisov tenders his government resignation Reuters, 14 November 2016 Two days later, on 16 November, the National Assembly voted 218–0 to accept it, resulting in early parliamentary elections.
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