Former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and several other prominent political figures signed a joint declaration on October 30, 2026, endorsing Andrey Gyurov and Georgi Kandev for the upcoming presidential runoff, shifting national security concerns to the forefront of the campaign ahead of the November 1 vote.
Political Leaders Back Gyurov Ahead of Runoff
The political alignment ahead of the November runoff expanded significantly as GERB leader Boyko Borisov added his signature to a high-profile open letter urging voters to support Andrey Gyurov and Georgi Kandev. The document, titled Call for Unity and Mobilization of the Vote,
was organized through the Forum for Democratic Action and published on October 30 by diplomat Iliyan Vassilev. The declaration brings together figures from across the democratic and reformist spectrum in an effort to present a united front.
Former presidents and prime ministers joined the statement. Among the signatories listed alphabetically alongside Borisov are Atanas Zapryanov, Daniel Mitov, Todor Tagarev, Boyko Noev, Nadezhda Neynski, Meglena Kuneva, Rumyana Bachvarova, Nikolay Vasilev, Nikolay Nenchev, Traycho Traykov, and Anyu Angelov.
Valentin Radev, Velizar Shalamanov, Korman Ismailov, and Nikolay Svinarov also signed, alongside Sofia Mayor Vasil Teriziev. European Parliament members such as Nikola Minchev from Continue the Change and Radan Kanev, who serves as the chairman of DSB, joined the signatories alongside former President Petar Stoyanov, who voiced his backing a day prior.
Among those joining Borisov on the document are former Prime Ministers Ivan Kostov and Nikolai Denkov. Former President Rosen Plevnevliev and Sofia Mayor Vasil Teriziev also signed.
The list of signatories encompasses former ministers, high-ranking reserve military officers, diplomats, and public intellectuals. Military figures endorsing the text include Lieutenant General Dimitar Iliev, Vice Admiral Georgi Fidanov, Major General Lyuben Stoykov Pandev, Major General Stefan Dimitrov, and Brigadier General Dinko Ivanov. Diplomatic and public figures such as Valeri Rachev, Vesela Cherneva, Evgenia Koldanova, and Stefan Tafrov also signed the open letter.
Security Concerns and Regional Risks in the Black Sea
At the core of the declaration is a sharp critique of current institutional responses to regional conflict. State leadership has minimized growing perils in the Black Sea region rather than preparing the nation for potential fallout.
Today, national security must stand above party differences,
the signatories stated according to 24Chasa.
The signatories added, Unity is necessary around a clear assessment of the threat, the resolute defense of national interests, and Bulgaria’s full participation in the common defense of the EU and NATO.
Authorities fail to deter the aggressor and instead create conditions for new attacks by remaining passive, the text warns. Signatories pointed to strategic pressures from Moscow, noting an absence of adequate institutional response regarding security demands affecting Eastern Europe’s place within the alliance. The document explicitly references demands made by Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding NATO forces returning to pre-1997 borders, asserting that such measures would return Eastern Europe to a Russian sphere of influence.
Right-Wing Parties Discuss Support for Gyurov and Kandev
The endorsement follows days of internal discussion among right-of-center parties regarding how to approach the second round. Some political bodies debated whether to issue formal conditions for support. Individual leaders moved to clarify their positions directly to voters.
Blue Bulgaria announced on October 26 that it opposes Iliana Yotova while leaving instructions for the runoff open. Nikolay Nenchev gathered 5,784 votes on the first ballot. Former presidential candidate Nikolay Nenchev urged his supporters and democratic citizens to cast their ballots for Gyurov and Kandev, citing an urgent need to counter political stagnation.
Rumen Khristov urged democratic supporters to participate actively in the Sunday ballot, cautioning that abstention or protest boycotts would inadvertently serve alternative geopolitical trajectories.
Voter Mobilization Before November 1
The joint appeal frames the presidential runoff as a decisive choice for the country’s institutional direction. Organizers behind the initiative, including diplomat Iliyan Vassilev who shared the text publicly, stress that overcoming past political divisions is essential to prevent international isolation.
The campaign enters its final hours before polls open on November 1, 2026. The coalition of former leaders and public figures presents Gyurov and Kandev as the necessary political counterweight and corrective to the policies of incumbent leadership.