2016 Bulgarian presidential election

* * *

| ← 2011 | 6 November 2016 (first round)
13 November 2016 (second round) | 2021 →

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Turnout| 56.28% (first round)
50.44% (second round)
|   |

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Nominee  | Rumen Radev | Tsetska Tsacheva |
Party  | Independent | GERB
Running mate  | Iliana Iotova | Plamen Manushev
Popular vote  | 2,063,032 | 1,256,485
Percentage  | 59.37% | 36.16%

* * *

Results by province
Radev:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

* * *

| 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

[edit]

The president was elected using the two-round system.[2] For the first time voters were allowed to vote for none of the above.[3]

## Candidates

[edit]

Incumbent president Rosen Plevneliev announced in May 2016 that he would not be running for re-election.[4]

### Official candidates

[edit]

Presidential candidate  | Born  | Vice presidential running-mate  | Party  | Notes

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|
|
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Maj.Gen.Rumen Radev | 18 June 1963
(age 53)
Town Dimitrovgrad, Region Haskovo, Bulgaria | Iliana Iotova | 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] Iotova is an MP in the European Parliament.

Tsetska Tsacheva | 24 May 1958
(age 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 | 29 March 1965
(age 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 | 19 April 1970
(age 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 | 30 May 1964
(age 52)
Sofia, Bulgaria | Lyubomir 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.[10]
Tatyana Doncheva | 28 January 1960
(age 56)
Tryavna, 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 | 21 February 1960
(age 56)
Dupnitsa, Bulgaria | Danail Papazov | Independent supported by Movement for Rights and Freedoms | Oresharski is a former Prime Minister of Bulgaria;[12] Papazov is a former minister of Transport.
George Ganchev | 29 August 1939
(age 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 | 7 January 1953
(age 63)
Galabovo, Bulgaria | Bilyana Grancharova | Movement for Radical Change Bulgarian Spring | Enchev is an independent MP;[14] Grancharova is a jurist.

Veselin Mareshki | 26 March 1967
(age 49)
Varna, Bulgaria | Petar Petrov | Independent | Mareshki is a businessman.[15]
Dimitar Marinov | 15 August 1955
(age 61)
Karaisen, 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 | 16 June 1966
(age 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 | 27 April 1954
(age 62)
Sofia, Bulgaria | Radoslav Radoslavov | Bulgarian Socialdemocratic-Euroleft | Tomov is a businessman.
Gospodin Tonev | 29 November 1955
(age 60)
Dimitrovgrad, 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 | 26 January 1971
(age 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 | 16 August 1959
(age 57)
Lyubimets, 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

[edit]

Candidate  | Born  | Party  | Notes

|
|
|

President Rosen Plevneliev | 14 May 1964
(age 52)
Town Gotse Delchev, Region Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria | Independent | [23]

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov | 13 June 1959
(age 57)
Town Bankya, Region Sofia, Bulgaria | GERB | Endorsed Tsetska Tsacheva[24]

## Opinion polls

[edit]

### First round

[edit]

Qualifying for the second round

Pollster  | Date  | Radev | Tsacheva | Karakachanov | Mareshki | Oresharski | Traykov | Kalfin | Others

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|  |  |  |  |  |  |
Market Links[permanent dead link] | 4 October 2016  | 14.9  | 19.8  | 7.9  | –  | 1.1  | 4.5  | 5.4  | 46.4
Mediana[permanent dead link] | 8 October 2016  | 18  | 25.4  | 9.9  | 3.2  | 1.3  | 4.2  | 6.1  | 31.9
Gallup International[permanent dead link] | 12 October 2016  | 15.1  | 19.2  | 7.2  | 4.7  | 1.3  | 5.2  | 4.9  | 42.4
Alpha Research[permanent dead link] | 13 October 2016  | 21.4  | 29.3  | 8.7  | 3.3  | 0.5  | 5.0  | 6.8  | 25
TSAM[permanent dead link] | 22 October 2016  | 22  | 32  | 9.1  | 5.3  | 2.8  | 5.6  | 6.3  | 16.9
IMP[permanent dead link] | 22 October 2016  | 21.1  | 26.6  | 9.7  | –  | 1.8  | 4.9  | 8.6  | 27.3
Gallup International[permanent dead link] | 25 October 2016  | 16.3  | 20.2  | 8.1  | 5  | 3.8  | 5.2  | 5.3  | 36.1
Market Links[permanent dead link] | 30 October 2016  | 18.1  | 19.4  | 8.5  | 4.3  | 2.2  | 3.8  | 3.5  | 40.2
Online Solutions[permanent dead link] | 3 November 2016  | 18  | 19  | 16  | –  | –  | –  | 15  | 32
Barometre Bulgaria[permanent dead link] | 3 November 2016  | 14.4  | 19.3  | 19.1  | 4.4  | 4.8  | 4.6  | 4.2  | 29.2

### Second round

[edit]

Pollster  | Date  | Radev | Tsacheva | Others

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|

|  |
Gallup International[permanent dead link] | 12 October 2016  | 29.6  | 26.4  | 44
Alpha Research[permanent dead link] | 13 October 2016  | 31.3  | 32.6  | 36.1
Sova Harris[permanent dead link] | 15 October 2016  | 37.8  | 38.7  | 23.5
TSAM[permanent dead link] | 22 October 2016  | 41  | 43  | 16
Gallup International[permanent dead link] | 25 October 2016  | 32.1  | 31.3  | 36.6
Market Links[permanent dead link] | 30 October 2016  | 30.7  | 25  | 44.3
Mediana[permanent dead link] | 31 October 2016  | 37.2  | 36.2  | 26.6
Pollster  | Date  | Radev | Karakachanov | Others

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|

|  |
Market Links[permanent dead link] | 30 October 2016  | 27.2  | 26.1  | 46.7
Pollster  | Date  | Tsacheva | Karakachanov | Others

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|

|  |
Alpha Research[permanent dead link] | 13 October 2016  | 31.3  | 25.1  | 43.4

## Results

[edit]

Candidate| Running mate| Party| First round| Second round

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|
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Votes| %| Votes| %
| Rumen Radev| Iliana Iotova| Independent (Bulgarian Socialist Party)| 973,754| 25.44| 2,063,032| 59.37
| Tsetska Tsacheva| Plamen Manushev| GERB| 840,635| 21.96| 1,256,485| 36.16
| Krasimir Karakachanov| Yavor Notev| United Patriots| 573,016| 14.97|
| Veselin Mareshki| Petar Petrov| Independent| 427,660| 11.17|
| Plamen Oresharski| Danail Papazov| Independent| 253,726| 6.63|
| Traycho Traykov| Sabi Sabev| Reformist Bloc| 224,734| 5.87|
| Ivailo Kalfin| Lyubomir Halachev| Alternative for Bulgarian Revival| 125,531| 3.28|
| Tatyana Doncheva| Mincho Spasov| Movement 21–NDSV| 69,372| 1.81|
| George Ganchev| Kolyo Paramov| Christian Social Union| 27,928| 0.73|
| Velizar Enchev| Bilyana Grancharova| Movement for Radical Change Bulgarian Spring| 18,213| 0.48|
| Dimitar Marinov| Radoslav Petrov| Bulgarian National Unification| 14,974| 0.39|
| Rumen Galabinov| Veska Voleva| Independent| 10,286| 0.27|
| Plamen Paskov| Svetozar Saev| Independent| 10,103| 0.26|
| Aleksandar Tomov| Radoslav Radoslavov| Bulgarian Social Democracy–EuroLeft| 9,513| 0.25|
| Gospodin Tonev| Andrey Andreev| Bulgarian Democratic Community| 6,855| 0.18|
| Kemil Ramadan| Momchil Dobrev| Balkanic Democratic League| 6,089| 0.16|
| Kamen Popov| Georgi Nedelchev| Independent| 5,212| 0.14|
| Diana Dimitrova| Gabriel Gerasimov| Independent| 4,362| 0.11|
| Nikolay Banev| Sali Ibrayim| Independent| 4,196| 0.11|
| Yordanka Koleva| Veselin Hristov| Independent| 4,182| 0.11|
| Biser Milanov| Krasimir Nastev| Independent| 3,215| 0.08|
None of the above| 214,094| 5.59| 155,411| 4.47
Total| 3,827,650| 100.00| 3,474,928| 100.00
Valid votes| 3,827,650| 96.96| 3,474,928| 98.14
Invalid/blank votes| 119,925| 3.04| 66,036| 1.86
Total votes| 3,947,575| 100.00| 3,540,964| 100.00
Registered voters/turnout| 7,014,723| 56.28| 7,020,119| 50.44
Source: Electoral Commission of Bulgaria

### Voter demographics

[edit]

Gallup exit polling suggested the following demographic breakdown.

Voter Demographics[25]

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

[edit]

Following the results of the second round, Prime Minister and GERB leader Boiko Borisov tendered his resignation.[26] Two days later, on 16 November, the National Assembly voted 218–0 to accept it, resulting in early parliamentary elections.[27]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Global elections calendar NDI
2. ^ Bulgaria IFES
3. ^ Bulgaria’s 2016 presidential elections: Voters to have ‘I don’t support anyone’ option Sofia Glove, 9 October 2016
4. ^ "Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev Won't Seek Second Term in 2016 Elections". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
5. ^ "The President of the Republic of Bulgaria Gen. Rumen Radev MiG 29 Fulcrum MEMORABLE Flight Display". 8 November 2014 – via YouTube.
6. ^ "Румен Радев – генералът, когото левицата избра да води битката ѝ".
7. ^ "Борисов обяви официално Цецка Цачева за кандидат-президент на ГЕРБ: Нацията има нужда и от майка (допълнена)" (in Bulgarian). Dnevnik. 2 October 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
8. ^ "Каракачанов и Нотев - "патриотичната двойка" за "Дондуков" 2" (in Bulgarian). dir.bg. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
9. ^ Traicho Traikov is the Reformist Bloc's presidential candidate Archived 13 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine BNT, 1 September 2016
10. ^ "Първо в "24 часа": Калфин ще е кандидатът на АБВ за президент".
11. ^ "Татяна Дончева и Минчо Спасов влизат заедно в кандидатпрезидентската битка (допълнена)".
12. ^ "Пламен Орешарски се кандидатира за президент". Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
13. ^ "Жорж Ганчев и Кольо Парамов убедени, че ще спечелят президентските избори". 31 May 2016.
14. ^ "И Велизар Енчев влиза в битката за държавен глава". 8 September 2016.
15. ^ "Марешки все пак ще се кандидатира за президент".
16. ^ "Митьо Пищова и Радо Шишарката щурмуват президентството". 12 September 2016.
17. ^ "Предозиране: И Владимир Кузов поиска да е президент".
18. ^ a b "Светослав Витков и Владимир Кузов отпадат от изборите, не са събрали подписи" [Svetoslav Vitkov and Vladimir Kuzov drop out of the elections, they have not gathered signatures]. dnevnik.bg (in Bulgarian). 5 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
19. ^ "Камен Попов – рокерът кандидат-президент – bgonair.bg".
20. ^ news.bg (14 September 2016). "Светльо Витков и "Зелените" отиват заедно на президентския вот".
21. ^ Рошкев, Стоил. "Кои са кандидатпрезидентските двойки". Archived from the original on 16 November 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
22. ^ "Бисер Миланов се включва в президентската надпревара – БЛИЦ – Новини от България и света".
23. ^ "Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev Won't Seek Second Term in 2016 Elections". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
24. ^ Bulgaria's PM to Run for President in 5 Years Novinite, 1 September 2016
25. ^ "Демографски профили на вота". Галъп интернешънъл (in Bulgarian). 7 November 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
26. ^ Bulgarian PM Borisov tenders his government resignation Reuters, 14 November 2016
27. ^ "Bulgarian MPs Accept PM Borisov's Resignation". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.

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