Bulgaria: Yotova-Valchev Lead Presidential Poll With 46.9%

Iliana Yotova and Kiril Valchev would receive 46.9% of the vote if Bulgaria held its presidential election in early October, according to an independent Myara survey conducted among 1,000 adults.

The study was carried out through face-to-face interviews and online surveys between September 26 and October 4. Sociologists found that Andrey Gyurov and Georgi Kandev would receive 25.3% support, while Kostadin Kostadinov and Petar Volgin would collect 8.8%.

The other candidate pairs recorded the following levels of support: Ivelin Mihaylov and Yuliana Mateeva, 4.2%; Ivan Hristanov and Stoyanka Cherkezova, 2.7%; and Radostin Vasilev and Krasimir Manov, 2.2%.

Among the remaining candidates, Georgi Dimov, Ivaylo Simeonov and Rosen Milenov each registered support close to 1%. Another 2.3% of respondents said they would choose the "I do not support anyone" option.

Myara stressed that the figures are not a forecast of the eventual election result but instead reflect current voter sentiment. Based on what respondents said, projected turnout stands at 35.4%.