In brief
Yes, Bulgaria has said it will appeal the Central Election Commission’s 8‑to‑7 decision that Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s call for support of presidential candidate Iliana Iotova was not an election violation. The party cites the commission’s refusal to judge over 105 complaints about the use of official government channels. The appeal follows earlier protests from Democratic Bulgaria and the Gurov‑Kandev nomination committee over the same issue.
Yes, Bulgaria announced on 28 October 2026 that it will appeal the Central Election Commission’s (CEC) ruling that Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s statement supporting presidential candidate Iliana Iotova did not violate election rules, according to a BTA report.
In its statement, the party said the CEC, dominated by members of Progressive Bulgaria and Vazrazhdane, had failed to address more than 105 complaints about the use of the Government Information Service and the Council of Ministers’ official channels to disseminate the Prime Minister’s call. It warned that the commission’s inaction shields those in power and breaches the principle of equal law application.
Prior Decision by the CEC
The CEC, meeting on Monday 25 October, ruled that Radev’s comments, made after the first round of the presidential election and before the official campaign period, did not amount to an administrative violation. The 8‑to‑7 vote reflected a narrow split, with Alina Dobreva and Vyara Todeva voicing concerns that the statement’s dissemination through government channels constituted campaign material.
"There is a new assemblage between Progressive Bulgaria and Vazrazhdane, and their members on the CEC must resign after refusing yesterday to establish a violation…"
That paragraph was quoted by Bozhidar Bozhanov, co‑chair of Yes, Bulgaria, in a call for the resignation of CEC members, as reported by BTA on 29 October 2026.
Previously, the Gurov‑Kandev nomination committee for the presidential ticket filed an appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court, arguing that the CEC’s decision ignored the alleged election campaigning via official state communication channels and demanded removal of the support announcement from the government’s website.
