In brief
In Sofia on 26 February 2027, the Yes, Bulgaria party announced it would appeal the Central Election Commission’s ruling that Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s comment in the first round of the presidential election was not a violation of the election code. The CEC had dismissed 105 complaints regarding the use of official government channels to support candidate Iliana Iotova by an 8‑to‑7 vote, a decision that has drawn criticism from the Democratic Bulgaria coalition and the Gurov‑Kandev nomination committee. Both opposition groups argue the commission failed to apply the law equally and that the government used its official platforms for campaign purposes.
In Sofia on 26 February 2027, the Yes, Bulgaria party announced it would appeal the Central Election Commission’s (CEC) ruling that Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s statement in the first round of the presidential election did not breach the election code, citing unresolved complaints about the use of official government channels to support candidate Iliana Iotova.
The party’s statement, released by Yes, Bulgaria – a member of the parliamentary Democratic Bulgaria coalition – highlighted that the CEC, whose majority consists of Progressive Bulgaria and Vazrazhdane representatives, avoided a decisive answer to whether official government websites and the Council of Ministers’ press service were permitted to disseminate the prime minister’s call to voters.
“The CEC must not become an institutional shield that protects those in power from scrutiny,” said Bozhidar Bozhanov, co‑chair of Yes, Bulgaria.
“The CEC, and specifically the members representing Progressive Bulgaria and Vazrazhdane… owe the public their resignations.”
In a related statement from Democratic Bulgaria on 29 October 2026, the coalition demanded the resignation of CEC members who allegedly ignored 105 complaints that the Council of Ministers’ press service had promoted Iotova’s candidacy. DB MP Aleksandra Sterkova noted the CEC’s refusal to examine the merits of the reports, describing it as a “political bias” rooted in the presence of Progressive Bulgaria and Vazrazhdane on the commission.
The CEC’s decision, adopted in a 8‑to‑7 vote on 26 February, was based on the timing of Radev’s remarks. The commission argued that the statement was made outside a state or municipal agency and before the official start of the election campaign, following the adoption of Decision No. 417 on 27 October announcing the first‑round results. It concluded that the prime minister’s comments did not constitute campaign material under Article 183 of the Election Code.
Critics, however, contend that the dissemination of the remarks through the Council of Ministers’ official communication channels effectively served as election propaganda. The Gurov‑Kandev nomination committee – representing the presidential ticket that ranked second in the first round – has appealed to the Supreme Administrative Court to challenge the CEC’s ruling, asserting that the call to support Iotova was political campaigning irrespective of who made it.
The committee’s complaint focuses on the fact that the statement remains on the state website during the runoff campaign, which begins on 1 November. It demands the removal of the announcement before the commencement of the election silence period, arguing that official state communication platforms should not be used for campaigning.
While the CEC’s narrow majority vote was framed by the commission as a procedural safeguard, opposition parties emphasize that such a slim margin underscores its dependence on incumbents. The Yes, Bulgaria party notes that the CEC’s refusal to answer on the merits leads to a “shielding” effect, allowing those in power to escape scrutiny.
In summary, the Central Election Commission upheld Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s statement as compliant with the election code, whereas both the Yes, Bulgaria party and the Democratic Bulgaria coalition criticize the commission for failing to enforce its own standards. The Gurov‑Kandev nomination committee’s appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court represents the latest legal challenge, bringing the case into the judicial arena ahead of the runoff scheduled for 1 November.
