Sofia and 17 other major cities go to second round in local elections

According to the law, within 48 after the close of polls on the day of local elections i.e. by 20.00 on October 29, Bulgarian Central Election Commission is required to announce the final results from the first round.

So far, on the bases of 100% processed ballots, 9 cities in Bulgaria elected their mayors in the first round of the local elections, including: Vratsa, Montana, Stara Zagora, Bourgas, Veliko Turnovo, Kardhzali, Gabrovo, Kyustendil and Haskovo. In 8 of those cities, the centre-right GERB party (majority partner in the government) won the largest share of votes in the first round. In Haskovo, the winner is the candidate of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms.

Second round of elections will be held in Sofia and 17 other district cities, in 9 of which the run-offs will be between the candidates of GERB and the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP). BSP candidates in Rouse and Razgrad won the largest shares of votes in the first round. Varna will also hold second round of local elections on November 3.

The election campaign for the second round will run only for 3 days.