In brief
Interior Minister Ivan Demerджиев said the ministry is receiving more alerts of vote‑buying as the presidential election moves into the second round, after a calm first round. He cautioned that efforts to manufacture votes appear targeted at one of the remaining tickets and pledged swift action by the Interior Ministry. The ministry’s focus is to preserve election integrity and protect citizens’ democratic rights.
Sofia, October 29, 2026 — In a briefing held during the graduation ceremony for cadets of the Interior Ministry’s Academy, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev announced that the ministry has been receiving an increasing number of alerts about efforts to buy votes ahead of the second round of Bulgaria’s presidential election.
Ivan Demerdzhiev said the first round of the elections passed "extremely calmly, and no such practices were observed." He urged election participants to remain on the course that the elections have followed so far.
"The first round of the elections passed extremely calmly, and no such practices were observed. I urge election participants to stay on the course that the elections have followed so far," Ivan Demerdzhiev said.
Demerdzhiev went on to warn that new information about vote‑buying is coming through more frequently, specifically with attempts to manufacture votes to benefit one of the two remaining tickets. He emphasized that the ministry will be ready to act wherever information is available.
"Wherever we have information, we will respond. Votes cannot be gathered in this way," the Minister added. "We have reports that attempts are being made to generate votes, especially in support of one of the two tickets."
The interior minister’s remarks come after a close first round, in which 25,105 voters cast ballots for 61,894 valid votes, leaving only two candidates for the runoff: Iliana Iotova with her running mate Kiril Valchev, and Andrey Gurov with Georgi Kandev.
Office of the Interior Ministry officials say they have increased surveillance of polling stations, particularly in regions with historically high voter turnout. The ministry’s response mechanisms include deploying additional personnel to monitor vote‑counting procedures and reviewing all misdemeanor reports lodged by volunteers and local councils. Interior officials assert that preserving the integrity of the electoral process is paramount to maintaining public confidence in democratic institutions.
For everyday citizens, these developments highlight the fragility of the democratic process in practical terms. If illicit conduct were proven, it could undermine the legitimacy of the eventual outcome and erode trust in state authorities. In the past, similar allegations have led to prolonged judicial inquiries and, in some instances, a re-run of contested electoral regions.
In Bulgaria, the constitution requires that a presidential election be conducted in accordance with the principles of free and fair elections. A breach of these principles may call for intervention by courts, and could even lead to the constitutional court re-evaluating the election’s validity. Parliament has previously called for independent auditing bodies to examine vote‑buying allegations in prior elections, especially during the 2019 parliamentary race.
Demerdzhiev also reminded participants that the ministry has not yet received any concrete evidence sufficient for formal charges. He stressed that election participants must be proactive in preventing any wrongdoing, and encouraged the candidacy support teams to educate their volunteers on the legal boundaries of campaigning.
For the candidates, the stakes are high. Iliana Iotova’s campaign has focused on reform and anti‑corruption rhetoric, while Andrey Gurov’s platform has emphasized economic stability and foreign affairs. A single incident of vote‑buying could sway public opinion and, by extension, the balance in the ultra‑tightly contested race. The international community has been observing the runoff with particular attention to the level of transparency and adherence to democratic norms.
Individual voters, too, face the consequences of any such misconduct. Voter fraud, if widespread, could represent a disincentive for civic engagement and potentially depress turnout in future elections. Citizens who witnessed or were victims of vote‑buying schemes may question whether their real voice is being heard.
The Interior Ministry’s pledge “to respond” to all reports and its readiness to conduct investigations serves as a reassurance that the state is actively protecting the democratic process. However, experts emphasize that sustained vigilance by independent observers and civic society is essential to bridge gaps that official institutions alone may not fill.
As the presidential election enters its second stage, the close of the first round’s calm has set high expectations for the final vote. The cling of hope to a fair and transparent outcome hinges upon the ability of all stakeholders—state institutions, candidates, electoral observers, and voters—to jointly enforce the integrity of the democratic process.
Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev concluded his briefing by reiterating that the ministry remains committed to preserving a calm and orderly environment amidst a season with increased reports of potential vote‑buying. He called on the public to maintain vigilance and report any suspicious activity. The ministry signaled that any accusations falling under the purview of election law would be investigated thoroughly to defend the right of citizens to participate in an untainted democratic process.
