Reviving a past electoral formula, Vazrazhdane nominated party leader Kostadin Kostadinov for president and European Parliament member Petur Volgin for vice president during Independence Day commemorations in Veliko Tarnovo on September 22, 2026, ahead of the October 25 vote.
The announcement materialized on the historic Tzarevetz hill, where the party gathered to place a wreath marking 118 years since the declaration of Bulgaria’s independence. By pairing Kostadinov with Volgin—a euro-deputy who is not formally a party member—the organization set its sights firmly on the upcoming ballot, establishing the ticket as a challenge to the political establishment.
Veliko Tarnovo Proclamation and the Independence Day Symbolism
Choosing Veliko Tarnovo and the date of September 22 was a calculated, symbolic maneuver. According to MP Tsoncho Ganev, the venue and anniversary were deliberately selected to tie the nomination directly to the historical anniversary of the state’s independence. Standing before the Pyramid monument, Kostadinov framed his platform around that legacy.
He expressed hope that the historical milestone would transcend being a mere calendar entry and evolve into a tangible reality for citizens. Reflecting on his childhood, Kostadinov shared a personal memory from 1986 when a post-first-grade trip with his family to the old capital ignited his enduring devotion to the country. Turning to current geopolitical standings, he asserted that Bulgaria does not need to prove its European belonging, having made its civilizational choice nearly fourteen centuries ago.
Public Consultation and the Selection of Petur Volgin
The ticket’s formation followed an extensive internal vetting process. Vazrazhdane formally registered its candidate slate with the Central Election Commission in Sofia later that same day. Prior to the nomination, rumors had circulated for about a month pointing toward Volgin as a potential contender for the nation’s highest office.
Ultimately, party leadership leaned on a month-long public survey to guide the decision. More than 16,000 individuals participated in the poll, a significant portion of whom were neither members nor regular sympathizers of Vazrazhdane. Kostadinov praised the engagement, noting that the primary sentiment expressed by respondents was a straightforward desire for politicians to genuinely love the nation and its people.
Defending his choice for the vice-presidential slot, Kostadinov emphasized Volgin’s record in Brussels. He stated that Petur Volgin demonstrated in the European Parliament that there are no taboo topics, red lines, or untouchable major powers when it comes to defending Bulgarian national interests.
Historical Parallels and the Crowded October Ballot
The strategy mirrors Vazrazhdane’s playbook from the 2021 presidential elections, when the party similarly fielded its leader at the top of the ticket alongside Elena Guncheva as the vice-presidential candidate. In that race, the ticket finished fourth overall, securing 104,832 votes or 3.92 percent of the electorate, before Guncheva exited the party the following year.
This time, they enter an intensely populated electoral field. Documents for 24 candidate lists were submitted to the Central Election Commission for the upcoming October 25 vote. With the registration window closing and a ballot-number lottery scheduled for the following day, the campaign enters its immediate operational phase.