Bulgarian presidential election, 2016

Bulgarian presidential election, 2016

6 November 2016 (first round) 13 November 2016 (second round)
Turnout	56.28% (first round) 50.44% (second round)
Nominee Rumen Radev Tsetska Tsacheva Party Independent GERB Running mate Iliana Yotova Plamen Manushev Popular vote 2,063,032 1,256,485 Percentage 59.37% 36.16%
President before election Rosen Plevneliev GERB Elected President Rumen Radev Independent

Presidential elections were held in Bulgaria on 6 November 2016,^[1] 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 of Bulgaria is elected using the two-round system.^[2] For the first time, voters will be allowed to vote for none of the above.^[3]

Candidates

The incumbent President, Rosen Plevneliev, announced in May 2016 that he would not be running for re-election.^[4]

Official candidates

Presidential candidate	Born	Vice presidential running-mate	Party	Notes
Maj.Gen.Rumen Radev	June 18, 1963 (age 7004195000000000000♠53) Town Dimitrovgrad, Region Haskovo, Bulgaria	Iliana Yotova	Independent supported by Bulgarian Socialist Party	General Radev, the former commander of the Bulgarian Air Force,[5] 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.[6] Yotova is an MP in the European Parliament.
Tsetska Tsacheva	May 24, 1958 (age 7004213510000000000♠58) Village Dragana, Municipality Ugarchin, Region Lovech, Bulgaria	Plamen Manushev	GERB	Tsacheva is the incumbent Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Bulgaria.[7] Manushev is MP.
Krasimir Karakachanov	March 29, 1965 (age 7004188500000000000♠51) Rousse, Bulgaria	Yavor Notev	United Patriots	Karachanov is co-chairman of the Patriotic Front and a Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly.[8] Notev is the Deputy Chair of the Attack party and a Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly.
Traycho Traykov	April 19, 1970 (age 7004170030000000000♠46) Sofia, Bulgaria	Sabi Sabev	Reformist Bloc	Traykov is the former Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism and is currently a municipal councilor in Sofia.[9] Sabev is a general in the Bulgarian army.
Ivaylo Kalfin	May 30, 1964 (age 7004191530000000000♠52) Sofia, Bulgaria	Lyubomir Halachev	Alternative for Bulgarian Revival	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;[10]
Tatyana Doncheva	January 28, 1960 (age 7004207370000000000♠56) Town Tryavna, Region Gabrovo, Bulgaria	Mincho Spasov	Movement 21 National Movement for Stability and Progress	Doncheva is a jurist and a former MP;[11] Spasov is a jurist and former MP.
Plamen Oresharski	February 21, 1960 (age 7004207130000000000♠56) Town Dupnitsa, Region Kyustendil, Bulgaria	Danail Papazov	Independent	Oresharski is a former Prime Minister of Bulgaria;[12] Papazov is a former minister of Transport.
George Ganchev	August 29, 1939 (age 7004281940000000000♠77) Plovdiv, Bulgaria	Kolyo Paramov	Christian Social Union	Ganchev is a former MP and three-time presidential candidate.[13] Paramov is an economist and former MP.
Velizar Enchev	January 7, 1953 (age 7004233140000000000♠63) Town Galabovo, Region Stara Zagora, Bulgaria	Bilyana Grancharova	Movement for Radical Change Bulgarian Spring	Enchev is an independent MP;[14] Grancharova is a jurist.
Veselin Mareshki	March 26, 1967 (age 7004181230000000000♠49) Varna, Bulgaria	Petar Petrov	Independent	Mareshki is a businessman.[15]
Dimitar Marinov	August 15, 1955 (age 7004223640000000000♠61) Village Karaisen, Municipality Pavlikeni, Region Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria	Radoslav 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;[16] Petrov (known as Rado the Fircone) is a pop-folk singer.
Vladimir Kuzov	June 16, 1966 (age 7004184060000000000♠50) Sofia, Bulgaria	Borislav Noev	Independent	Kuzov and Noev are former MPs from the union around the Attack party;[17] Their registration in the elections was denied due to insufficient number of signatures gathered.[18]
Aleksandar Tomov	April 27, 1954 (age 7004228390000000000♠62) Sofia, Bulgaria	Radoslav Radoslavov	Bulgarian Socialdemocratic-Euroleft	Tomov is a businessman.
Gospodin Tonev	November 29, 1955 (age 7004222580000000000♠60) Town Dimitrovgrad, Region Haskovo, Bulgaria	Andrey Andreev	Bulgarian Democratic Community
Kamen Popov	Bulgaria	Georgi Nedelchev	Independent	Popov is a businessman, sportsman. Popov struck the leader of Attack party Volen Siderov.[19]
Svetoslav Vitkov	January 26, 1971 (age 7004167210000000000♠45) Sofia, Bulgaria	Ivan Velkov	Independent supported by People's Voice The Greens	Vitkov is a musician, and a municipal councilor in Sofia;[20] 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.[18]
Kemil Ramadan	Bulgaria	Momchil Dobrev	Balkanic Democratic League
Nikolay Banev	August 16, 1959 (age 7004209020000000000♠57) Town Lyubimets, Region Haskovo, Bulgaria	Sali Ibrayim	Independent	Banev is a businessman;[21] Ibrayim is a former mayor of Momchilgrad
Biser Milanov	Bulgaria	Krasimir Nastev	Independent	Milanov is a recidivist;[22] 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	May 14, 1964 (age 7004191690000000000♠52) Town Gotse Delchev, Region Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria	Independent	[23]
Prime Minister Boyko Borisov	June 13, 1959 (age 7004209660000000000♠57) Town Bankya, Region Sofia, Bulgaria	GERB	Endorsed Tsetska Tsacheva [24]

Opinion polls

Results

Aftermath

Following the results of the second round, Prime Minister and GERB leader Boiko Borisov tendered his resignation.^[25] Two days later, on 16 November, the National Assembly voted 218–0 to accept it, resulting in early parliamentary elections.^[26]

References