Yotova and Radev Hail Election Result as Mandate for More Reforms

Prime Minister Rumen Radev said Bulgaria would not return to backroom political deals and the practices of the transition period after Iliana Yotova and Kiril Valchev won the presidential runoff, describing the result as confirmation of the government's political course and a mandate for more decisive reforms.

Speaking after the polls closed, Radev said Bulgarians had chosen peace, stability and a clear path forward rather than a return to the past. He congratulated Yotova and Valchev for conducting what he called a dignified and positive campaign despite the hostility surrounding them.

* "Today, the Bulgarian people chose the future over the past; they chose peace and a stable, clear path forward,"* Radev said.

Addressing Yotova, with whom he said he had known and worked for 10 years, the prime minister expressed confidence that she would be able to fulfill the responsibilities of the presidency during a difficult period.

* "I am convinced that you will be a worthy president of Bulgaria during these difficult times - a period in which you are called upon to bear this heavy responsibility,"* he said.

Radev thanked Bulgarians who had voted despite the bad weather, as well as Progressive Bulgaria's supporters, party members and youth organizations, crediting them with an impressive mobilization and a strong result achieved in a short period.

He said the outcome confirmed that the government was pursuing the right course and called for more active reforms as the country concluded a difficult election year.

* "We are concluding a challenging election year, but the direction is clear - there is no going back to backroom deals or the shadows of the transition,"* Radev declared.

The prime minister also dismissed suggestions that Progressive Bulgaria's support was declining, pointing to the more than one million votes received by the presidential ticket. He urged political commentators to wait for the final results before drawing conclusions about changes in the party's support.

* "After all, we have secured over a million votes—and this in a presidential election, not a parliamentary one,"* he said.

Radev also addressed the possibility of protests against the government during the debate and adoption of the budget. He said citizens had the right to protest, but argued that public dissatisfaction should not automatically trigger early elections.

* "People protest about the sun, people protest about plants, Asen Vassilev will protest to the bitter end over the budget, but that does not mean we should hold new elections every four or five months simply because some people are protesting,"* he said.

He called on political actors to respect democratic procedures and election results, adding that some who professed their commitment to democracy did not follow its principles.

Newly elected President Iliana Yotova thanked voters for participating in the election and for placing their trust in her and Valchev. She also acknowledged those who had not supported their ticket, saying their concerns and expectations would be examined.

Yotova thanked Progressive Bulgaria, Radev and the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) for their backing, and expressed particular gratitude to the members of her initiative committee.

* "Despite the intense pressure and the hatred, not a single person gave up or betrayed us; they were with us every step of the way. For me, this represents an immense responsibility,"* she said.

She described her campaign as positive and said her team had avoided personal attacks, hate speech and divisive rhetoric, although she claimed the same approach had not been taken by her opponents.

Yotova said her campaign had focused on incomes, peace and the challenges facing the country, adding that voters had understood its message. She criticized Gyurov for conducting what she described as an aggressive campaign targeting her personally.

* "I cannot fathom who misled Mr. Gyurov into launching an aggressive campaign directed personally at me; the people have said, 'That is not the way,'"* she said.

Yotova added that the election result reflected public support for dialogue rather than division and attacks against political opponents. She said she had received a telephone call from Gyurov, who congratulated her on the victory and expressed confidence that she would be a president capable of engaging with everyone.

The newly elected president also referred to earlier statements by Asen Vassilev, who had predicted that his political formation would win an absolute majority in the parliamentary election and later said Gyurov would become president.

* "A few months ago, before the parliamentary elections, Mr. Vassilev claimed that his political formation would secure an absolute majority. A few months later, he stated that Mr. Gyurov would be the country's new president. I leave the rest, and the answer, to you,"* Yotova said.

Asked whether anyone might influence her conduct as president, she said her political experience had left no room for others to dictate her decisions.

* "As for my conduct, I believe that with a political career spanning nearly 30 years, no one has yet come along who could tell me what to do,"* she declared.

Yotova also said she would conduct a detailed assessment of the concerns and expectations of voters who had selected the "I do not support anyone" option.

Valchev, who will serve as vice president, thanked those who had voted for the ticket and said the runoff had brought substantially more support for the prospect of Bulgaria having its first woman president. He also thanked Bulgarians living abroad who had taken part in the election.

He identified engagement with Bulgarian communities overseas, greater participation by young people in public life and improving the country's international image as priorities for his work.

Valchev reaffirmed his commitment to Bulgaria's European identity and democratic principles.

* "I will serve as an additional guarantor, from within the presidency, for Bulgaria’s place in Europe, where it has been for 14 centuries, and for democracy in our country,"* he said.

He also pledged to encourage young people to take part in discussions about the country's future, saying they would be invited to the presidential institution to present their ideas and proposals. Valchev said state institutions should work to overcome divisions and bring more citizens together around common national objectives.

* "Because the most important thing is to bring as many people as possible into the fold of the Bulgarian cause. It is said that a divided kingdom falls into ruin—something we have witnessed in Bulgaria over the last nearly 40 years,"* he added.

Valchev said he would also work to encourage young Bulgarians to remain in the country and those who had left to return.

The final parallel vote counts published by Trend and Myara showed a lead of nearly 20 percentage points for the Yotova-Valchev ticket. Trend put their support at 58.1%, compared with 38.9% for Gyurov and Georgi Kandev, while Myara reported 58.2% against 38.6%.

The "I do not support anyone" option received 3% according to Trend and 3.2% in Myara's count.