Gyurov Challenges Yotova to Debate as Both Candidates Seek Runoff Backing

Andrey Gyurov called for an open debate with presidential runoff opponent Iliana Yotova and ruled out seeking endorsements from political parties, while candidates and party leaders began outlining their positions ahead of Bulgaria’s November 1 runoff.

Speaking shortly after polls closed, Gyurov thanked voters for their support and stressed that the campaign still had important work ahead. He said Bulgaria needed an active president who could explain decisions and bring citizens together rather than divide them.

“This is not the time for patting ourselves on the back. I believe Bulgaria needs an active president - someone capable of explaining decisions and uniting Bulgarian citizens, rather than dividing them,” Gyurov said.

He insisted that the runoff would be decided by voters rather than party leaders. “These elections will not be decided in party headquarters; we will seek support solely from the citizens,” the presidential candidate said.

Gyurov also invited Yotova to participate in a public debate. “I call upon Yotova to join me in an open, honest, and civilized debate, where we can present our respective positions,” he said.

His running mate, Georgi Kandev, said he would not debate Yotova’s vice-presidential candidate, Kiril Valchev, because the debate should involve the presidential candidates themselves. Kandev urged citizens to participate in the runoff and defend democracy.

The initiative committee backing Gyurov said the result had been anticipated. Aleksandrina Pendachanska, co-chair of the committee, said the campaign had shown that Bulgarians wanted a president capable of restoring the country’s dignity and strength. She called for support from everyone who opposed a return to governance by what she described as the ghosts of the past.

Democratic Bulgaria also appealed for greater voter mobilization. Radan Kanev of the Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB) called on people seeking a strong, European and democratic Bulgaria, with checks and balances and a counterweight to unchecked executive power, to support Gyurov.

Bozhidar Bozhanov of Democratic Bulgaria said the alliance had backed Gyurov because its voters wanted him as their candidate, adding that he had not personally requested their support.

Asen Vassilev of We Continue the Change said anyone was free to support Gyurov but warned against parties waiting to be asked repeatedly before offering their backing. Such an approach, he argued, could leave Bulgaria with a president beholden to others.

Yotova, meanwhile, did not request explicit endorsements from political parties or other presidential candidates after the first round. She thanked voters for their participation and emphasized her intention to address all Bulgarian citizens, maintaining the positive approach of her campaign.

She criticized low turnout, saying voters should not have been intimidated or pressured into staying home. Yotova also argued that meaningful change would be impossible without voting and called for Bulgaria to avoid returning to years of stagnation.

The presidential candidate stressed that, with war raging in Europe, peace remained central to her platform. She said security and prosperity were impossible without peace and called for Bulgarian flags, rather than foreign flags, to fly in the country’s streets, alongside citizens who felt secure and could focus on their future.

Asked whether she would seek backing from other presidential tickets or political parties without candidates in the runoff, Yotova said her message was directed at all Bulgarian citizens. She also rejected the prospect of Bulgaria once again being governed by “haphazard coalitions” or ad hoc political arrangements.

Yotova’s running mate, Kiril Valchev, said a woman was leading the presidential race for the first time in the country. He expressed hope that more voters would participate in the second round and that Bulgaria would elect a female president. Valchev also challenged Kandev to a debate.

The Yotova-Valchev initiative committee described the upcoming debate as decisive for the election but acknowledged weaknesses in their campaign. Hristo Pimpirev, co-chair of the committee, said the candidates had traveled across almost the entire country, but their appearances had sometimes seemed overly formal and official. He said the campaign could have been more spontaneous, with events in public squares and a more sincere, authentic approach.

Progressive Bulgaria admitted that it had underestimated its vote and failed to mobilize enough supporters, while expressing hope of gaining ground in the runoff. Petar Vitanov, chair of the party’s parliamentary group, said the movement had a much larger reserve of potential voters and expected higher participation. He also noted that some political leaders had explicitly called on people not to vote.

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) indicated that Yotova could count on its support in the second round. BSP leader Krum Zarkov congratulated her on a campaign he described as requiring considerable strength of character and encouraged her to continue through the decisive seven days ahead. An assessment of the campaign is underway alongside preparations for the runoff strategy.

The question of where supporters of candidates eliminated in the first round will cast their ballots remains unresolved.

Kostadin Kostadinov, leader of Revival, said other political forces would have to take his party into account. He argued that many voters who had supported Rumen Radev in previous elections had returned to Revival, demonstrating its importance in Bulgarian politics. Kostadinov said the party’s voters would play a significant role in determining the November 1 outcome.

He added that Revival would decide whether to endorse a candidate and, if so, whom to support, potentially using an internal poll to assess its members’ and supporters’ views. He also stressed that the party’s voters were independent and could make their own choices.

Kostadinov said any request for support had to be made first and emphasized that Revival would not compromise on its principles.

Radostin Vasilev, leader of MECH, urged voters to follow their conscience but explicitly told them not to vote for Yotova. He said her defeat would lead to a situation involving snap parliamentary elections.

Ivan Hristanov said he had not yet decided whom to support in the runoff and would make that choice during the week, taking recent developments into account. He said it was too early to give a definitive answer.

Ivelin Mihaylov did not comment on the first-round presidential results on election night.