Bulgarian MPs approve October 25 date for presidential elections
In a vote on its final sitting day before the summer recess, Bulgaria’s Parliament approved October 25 as the date of the 2026 regular presidential elections.
If no candidate wins 50 per cent or more at the first round, a second round will be held on November 1.
In the 240-seat House, 145 MPs voted: 137 for, none against, with seven abstentions.
The votes in favour came from Progressive Bulgaria, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms and Vuzrazhdane, while We Continue the Change accounted for the abstentions.
GERB-UDF and Democratic Bulgaria did not vote, even though representatives of their parliamentary groups were among those who tabled the proposal for the date. Democratic Bulgaria said on July 31 that it objects to proposal for the second round to be on November 1, because that is the Day of the Enlighteners.
The 2026 presidential elections will be held in line the Electoral Code as amended by Parliament on July 30.
In a separate vote on July 31, Parliament voted to have its summer recess from August 5 to 23 inclusive.
