# 2023 Bulgarian local elections

Local elections in Bulgaria were held on 29 October 2023. Mayors and municipal councillors across the country were elected.

## Electoral system

The elections to Bulgaria's municipal councils are conducted via proportional representation with an open list preferential voting system.
The mayoral elections take place within the context of a majoritarian two-round system. The first round of the elections will be held on 29 October. If no candidate in a given constituency manages to gain 50% of the vote, a runoff election will be held for that constituency in the second round on 5 November.
Voting is officially mandatory, but in practice there is no punishment for failing to vote and the law itself isn't strictly enforced.
Voters further have the option to vote against all proposed candidates.

## Contesting parties

| Name | Name | Name | Ideology | Position | Leader(s) | 2023 result | 2023 result |
| Name | Name | Name | Ideology | Position | Leader(s) | Votes (%) | Seats |
| | BND | Bulgarian New Democracy | Conservative liberalism | Centre-right | Valery Timov | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | Svoboda | Freedom | Bulgarian nationalism | Right-wing | Vladimir Simenov | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | Zelenite | Party of the Greens [bg] | Green Politics Anti-corruption | Syncretic | Vladimir Nikolov | Together (BG) [bg] | 0 / 240 |
| | DD | Direct democracy | Direct democracy | Syncretic | Petar Klisarov [bg] | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | DnG | Movement for Our Cities | Local politics | Centre | Atanas Kalchev | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | Volya | Volya | Bulgarian nationalism Right-wing populism | Right-wing | Veselin Mareshki | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | Revival | Revival | Ultranationalism Russophilia | Far-right | Kostadin Kostadinov | 13.58 | 37 / 240 |
| | NDPS | National Movement for Rights and Freedoms | Turkish Minority interests | Centre | Gyuner Tahir [bg] | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | Euroma | Euroroma | Romani Minority interests | Centre | Tsvetalin Kanchev | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | BSD | Bulgarian Social Democrats | Social democracy | Centre-left | Georgi Atanasov Mariya Dobreva | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | BSDE | Bulgarian Social Democracy -Euro Left | Social democracy | Centre-left | Aleksandar Tomov | 0.10 | 0 / 240 |
| | SDS | Union of Democratic Forces | Christian democracy Conservatism | Centre-right | Rumen Hristov | (GERB-SDS) | 2 / 240 |
| | KOD | Conservative Union of the Right | National conservatism Right-wing populism | Right-wing | Petar Moskov | 0.29 | 0 / 240 |
| | ONB | Society for a New Bulgaria [bg] | National conservatism | Right-wing | Margarit Mitsev | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | OBT | United Block for Labour [bg] | Social democracy Labourism | Centre-left | Yekaterina Atanasova | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | Pravoto | Pravoto (political party) [bg] | Anti-corruption Russophilia | Syncretic | Mariya Koleva | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | BDS-R | Bulgarian Democratic Union-Radicals | National conservatism | Right-wing | Tsvetan Manchev | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | Georges Day | George's Day Movement | National conservatism Right-wing populism | Right-wing | Dragomir Stefanov | (GERB-SDS) | 1 / 240 |
| | PDS | Political Movement "Social Democrats" | Social democracy | Center-left | Yelena Noneva | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | ZS "AS" | Agrarian Union "Aleksandar Stamboliyski" | Social democracy Agrarianism | Center-left | Spas Panchev [bg] | (Levitsata!) | 0 / 240 |
| | OZ | United Agrarians | Liberal conservatism Agrarianism | Center-right | Petya Stavreva | (PP-DB) | 0 / 240 |
| | NI! | We are Coming! | Anti-corruption | Syncretic | Nikolay Hadjigenov Armyan Babikyan [bg] | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | BV | Bulgarian Rise | National conservatism | Syncretic | Stefan Yanev | 2.93 | 0 / 240 |
| | KB | Conservative Bulgaria | National conservatism | Right-wing | Boris Yachev | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | BPL | Bulgarian Progressive Line | Democratic Socialism | Left-wing | Krasimir Yankov [bg] | (Levitsata!) | 0 / 240 |
| | BG | Bulgarian Voice | Anti-corruption Right-wing populism | Syncretic | Georgi Popov | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | MIR | MIR (political party) [bg] | Left-wing nationalism | Center-left | Simeon Slavchov [bg] | 0.10 | 0 / 240 |
| | GN | Peoples Voice | Right-wing populism | Right wing | Svetoslav Vitkov | 0.21 | 0 / 240 |
| | DPS | Movement for Rights and Freedoms | Turkish minority interests Liberalism | Centre | Mustafa Karadaya | 13.58 | 36 / 240 |
| | Velichie | Greatness | Anti-corruption | Syncretic | Albena Peskova | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | VMRO | VMRO-BNM | National conservatism Bulgarian nationalism | Right-wing to far-right | Angel Dzhambazki | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | BSDP | BSDP | Social democracy | Centre-left | Yordan Nihrizov [bg] | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | BZNS | BZNS | Agrarianism | Centre | Iliya Zyumbulev | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | SDP | Social Democratic Party | Social democracy | Centre-left | Todor Barobolov [bg] | Together (Bulgaria) [bg] | 0 / 240 |
| | SP | Socialist Party "Bulgarian Way" [bg] | Socialism Left-wing nationalism | Far-Left | Angel Dimov [bg] | 0.03 | 0 / 240 |
| | SSD | Union of Free Democrats | Conservatism | Centre-right | Milan Lilanov | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | DNB | Movement "Forward Bulgaria" | Conservatism | Syncretic | Zoritsa Atanasova | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | ATAKA | Ataka | Bulgarian nationalism Russophilia | Far-Right | Volen Siderov | (Neutral Bulgaria) | 0 / 240 |
| | BDF | Bulgarian Democratic Forum [bg] | Conservatism | Centre-right | Zhaklin Toleva | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | ITN | There is Such a People | Conservatism Right-wing populism | Right-wing | Slavi Trifonov | 4.11 | 11 / 240 |
| | NV | New Time (political party) [bg] | Liberalism | Centre | Miroslav Sevelievski | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | DDD-DZ | Movement of Democratic Action | Liberal conservatism | Centre-right | Stefan Ivanov | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | SBOR | SBOR [bg] | Syncretic Politics | Syncretic | Dimitar Iliev | Together (Bulgaria) [bg] | 0 / 240 |
| | DBG | Bulgaria for Citizens Movement | Liberal conservatism | Centre to Centre-right | Jordan Yordanov [bg] | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | GERB | GERB | Conservatism Populism | Centre-right | Boyko Borisov | 26.9 | 67 / 240 |
| | NDSV | National Movement for Stability and Progress | Liberalism | Centre | Stanimir Ilchev | 0.27 | 0 / 240 |
| | SPS "Zashita" | Union of Patriotic Forces "Defense" | Bulgarian nationalism | Right-wing | Petar Beron | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | Edinstvo | National Movement "Unity" [bg] | Liberal conservatism | Center-right | Nikolay Ivanov | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | RZS | Order, Law and Justice | Right-wing populism | Right-wing | Yane Yanev | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | ZNS | Agrarian People's Union | Agrarianism | Centre-right | Rumen Yonchev [bg] | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | BUDD | Bulgarian Union for Direct Democracy [bg] | Direct democracy | Syncretic | Georgi Nedelchev | 0.10 | 0 / 240 |
| | SEK | Middle European Class | Liberal conservatism | Center-right | Konstantin Bachiyski | PP-DB | 1 / 240 |
| | "Citizens for the Communities" | Bulgarian Workers-Peasants Party | Communism Marxism-Leninism | Far-Left | Georgi Georgiev Yordan Maldzhanski | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | "Citizens for the Communities" | Competency, Responsibility, Truth [bg] | Euroscepticism Populism | Syncretic | Svetozar Suev [bg] | Out of EU and NATO [bg] | 0 / 240 |
| | "Together for Strong Communities" | Republicans for Bulgaria | Conservative liberalism | Center-right | Tsvetan Tsvetanov | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | "Together for Strong Communities" | "Green Union" | Green Politics | Center | | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | Levitsata! | Stand Up.BG | Social liberalism Social democracy | Center-left | Maya Manolova | 2.23 | 0 / 240 |
| | Levitsata! | Alternative for Bulgarian Revival | Social democracy Moderate social conservatism | Center-left | Rumen Petkov | 2.23 | 0 / 240 |
| | Levitsata! | ex-BSP faction | Social democracy | Center-left | Kostadin Paskalev [bg] Valeri Zheblyan [bg] | 2.23 | 0 / 240 |
| | Levitsata! | Movement 21 | Social democracy | Center-left | Tatyana Doncheva | 2.23 | 0 / 240 |
| | Neutral Bulgaria | Russophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland | Russophilia National conservatism | Syncretic | Nikolay Malinov [bg] | 0.42 | 0 / 240 |
| | Neutral Bulgaria | Communist Party of Bulgaria | Communism Marxism-Leninism | Far-left | Aleksandar Paunov | 0.42 | 0 / 240 |
| | Neutral Bulgaria | Bulgarian Communist Party [bg] | Communism Left-wing nationalism | Far-left | Zonka Spasova | 0.42 | 0 / 240 |
| | Neutral Bulgaria | Party of the Bulgarian Communists | Communism Marxism–Leninism | Far-left | Collective leadership | 0.42 | 0 / 240 |
| | Neutral Bulgaria | New Force | Bulgarian nationalism | Far-right | Collective leadership | 0.42 | 0 / 240 |
| | "Bulgaria of the Regions" | New Bulgaria [bg] | Anti-corruption | Center | Ivaylo Simeonov [bg] | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | "Bulgaria of the Regions" | NPPB | Local politics of Haskovo | | | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | BSP for Bulgaria | Bulgarian Socialist Party | Social democracy Social conservatism | Center-left | Korneliya Ninova | 8.93 | 23 / 240 |
| | BSP for Bulgaria | Ecoglasnost | Green politics | Center-left | Emil Georgiev [bg] | 8.93 | 23 / 240 |
| | BSP for Bulgaria | Political Club "Trakiya" [bg] | Southern Bulgarian regionalism Left-wing nationalism | Center-left | Stefan Nachev | 8.93 | 23 / 240 |
| | Alternative for the Citizens | Green Party | Green politics | Center-left | Mariya Dragomiretskaya | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | Alternative for the Citizens | Bulgarian Left | Democratic socialism | Left-wing | Collective leadership | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | Alternative for the Citizens | Unified Social-Democracy [bg] | Social-democracy | Center-left | Yordan Gergov | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | Alternative for the Citizens | Movement for Social Humanism | Social-democracy | Center-left | Tsevtan Minkyovski | DNP | 0 / 240 |
| | PP-DB | We Continue the Change | Liberalism Anti-corruption | Center | Kiril Petkov Asen Vasilev | 24.56 | 63 / 240 |
| | PP-DB | Volt Bulgaria | Eurofederalism | Center | Nastimir Ananiev | 24.56 | 63 / 240 |
| | PP-DB | Yes, Bulgaria! | Economic liberalism Anti-corruption | Center-right | Hristo Ivanov | 24.56 | 63 / 240 |
| | PP-DB | Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria | Liberal conservatism Atlanticism | Center-right | Atanas Atanasov | 24.56 | 63 / 240 |
| | PP-DB | Green Movement | Green politics Green liberalism | Centrist | Vladislav Panev | 24.56 | 63 / 240 |

### Local parties & coalitions

| Name | Name | Name | Location | Ideology |
| Name | Name | Name | Location | Ideology | Leader(s) |
| | Unification for Plovdiv | Bulgarian Cause | Plovdiv | Local politics | Georgi Tityukov |
| | Unification for Plovdiv | New Leaders | Plovdiv | Local politics Direct democracy |
| | RzSR | Development for Septemvri and the Region | Septemvri | Local politics | Radoslav Lyutakov |
| | SzP | Union for Plovdiv | Plovdiv | Local politics Liberal conservatism | Yevelin Paraskov Veselin Kozarev |
| | BzR | Future of the Motherland | Stara Zagora | Local politics | Stanislav Popov |
| | DzPP | Movement for the Prosperity of Pernik | Pernik | Local politics | Stanislav Vladimirov |
| | SS | Spasi Sofia | Sofia | Local politics Anti-corruption | Boris Bonev [bg] |
| | MORE | More | Nesebar | Local politics Rural interests | Peycho Kolev |

## Mayorship of Sofia

The election for the position of Mayor of Sofia, Bulgaria's capital and largest city, is expected to be hotly contested and will result in a new mayor being elected, as incumbent mayor Yordanka Fandakova from GERB has announced she will not seek re-election.
Opinion polls for Mayor of Sofia
| Polling firm | Fieldwork date | Sample | Vasil Terziev | Vasil Terziev | Vasil Terziev | Anton Hekimyan | Anton Hekimyan | Dean Nikolov | Vanya Grigorova | Vanya Grigorova | Vili Lilkov | Others | None of the above | Lead |
| Polling firm | Fieldwork date | Sample | PP | DB | SS | GERB | SDS | Revival | BSP | Levitsata! | Vili Lilkov | Others | None of the above | Lead |
| ЕСТАТ | 29.09-9.10 2023 | 800 | 27.8 | | | 18.7 | | | 20.6 | | 6.4 | Others | None of the above | | | 7.2 |
| CAM | 21–25 Jul 2023 | 1,212 | 33.4 | 33.4 | 33.4 | 22.7 | 22.7 | 12.0 | 10.6 | 10.6 | 4.8 | Others | None of the above | 7.9 | 2.7 | 10.7 |

## Results
### First round

According to Central Election Commission the number of people who voted on 29 October totaled 2,713,979 or 44.94% of eligible voters. The turnout was 49.76% in the 2019 local elections. The invalid ballots in the 29 October, 2023 elections totaled over half a million, including 412,711 ballots for municipal councilors, 94,195 for municipality mayor (down from 128,204 in 2019) and 34,235 for mayoralty mayor.
In general, GERB had the strongest showing throughout the country, although the party failed to make it to the second round in the capital.

### Second round

Overall, GERB won 11 regional towns, PP–DB won four, and the Bulgarian Socialist party won three. Of the largest four cities, PP-DB won in the capital (Sofia) and Varna while GERB won in Plovdiv and Burgas.

#### Sofia

Popular vote (Sofia City Council)
We Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria
34.3%
GERB-UDF
19.9%
Bulgarian Socialist Party-Levitsata!
13.9%
Revival
11.1%
Blue Sofia-KOD
4.7%
ITN
4.5%
VMRO
1.8%
Others
9.8% :
Popular vote (Mayor of Sofia) - First Round
Vasil Terziev
31.8%
Vanya Grigorova
21.6%
Anton Hekimyan
17.8%
Dean Nikolov
7.7%
Vili Lilkov
5.7%
Ivaylo Valchev
3.2%
Radostin Vassilev
2.5%
Others
9.7% :
Popular vote (Mayor of Sofia) - Second Round
Vasil Terziev
48.2%
Vanya Grigorova
46.9%
Against all
4.9% :