In brief
Early exit polls and parallel counts point to Iliana Iotova and Kiril Valchev leading the presidential runoff. CC Chair Assen Vassilev calls the election a “red card” for the government, citing low turnout and concerns about prices, incomes and oligarchic influence. He also warns that the 2027 state budget will be decisive for public and business interests.
At a polling station in Haskovo on Sunday, November 1, 2026, Continue the Change (CC) Chair Assen Vassilev told reporters that the presidential runoff had become a “red card” for the government over its handling of prices, incomes and the fight against oligarchic influence.
Early exit‑polls from the first run‑off stage showed the Iliana Iotova‑Kiril Valchev ticket ahead of Andrey Gurov and Georgi Kandev, with Vassilev noting a turnout of roughly 30 %. He said the gap might narrow before final counts, but did not expect the order of the two tickets to change.
Parallel exit‑polls by five agencies posted differing results by 9 p.m. on election day. Trend reported Iotova/Valchev at 58.1 % versus Gurov/Kandev at 38.9 %; Market Links reversed the figures, showing Gurov/Kandev at 56.5 % and Iotova/Valchev at 40.6 %. Alpha Research and Myara confirmed the first pattern, while Gallup International Balkan reported 56.1 % for Iotova/Valchev and 39.1 % for Gurov/Kandev.
Vassilev said the campaign had failed to mobilise enough voters, citing the exit‑poll data as evidence that shifts in nationalist or opposition support would not decisively affect either candidate. He pointed out that the parties backing Iotova – Progressive Bulgaria, Vazrazhdane, the Bulgarian Socialist Party and Velichie – had, together, received about 1.8 million votes in the last parliamentary election, and that a decline of around 800,000 votes could change the political balance.
Looking ahead, the CC chair stressed that attention will turn to the 2027 state budget, expecting it next week. He hopes it will be released promptly and, if found harmful to citizens and businesses, urges amendments through parliamentary and extra‑parliamentary channels.
