2024-09-23 17:06:33
Borisov keeps Sofia and Plovdiv, in Pazardzhik Krasen Kralev replaces commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva
Three successful mayors with a total of ten mandates behind them lead lists of GERB. These are Dimitar Nikolov (Burgas), Zhivko Todorov (Stara Zagora) and Nikolay Melemov (Smolyan). The leader Boyko Borisov warned as early as September 2 that he would use some of the most successful mayors as list leaders in order to conduct a more active campaign on the ground and for GERB to reach more voters – as the structures manage to mobilize them on local elections. He reassured the cities that he will not “take away” the governors re-elected in November, but if the party wins the elections and appoints a cabinet, they may become ministers with their expertise.
On June 9, in Burgas, GERB was once again the first force with 24.52% of the vote, MP Zhecho Stankov was at the top of the list, he won 4 mandates. But for the first time, the party’s result fell below 30,000 votes – from 36,169 in April 2023 to 26,799 in June 2024. The previous fall, Nikolov won his fifth mayoral mandate in the first round.
Zhivko Todorov, who turned 43 on Friday, is in his fourth term at the head of Stara Zagora. As a leader there, he replaces the former Minister of Education Krasimir Valchev. Todorov agreed to run for deputy because he participated in the preparation of the party’s program and placed important emphasis on the region in it. And in Stara Zagora, GERB holds its positions in first force with results of around 23% and three parliamentary mandates.
And Nikolay Melemov is mayor for the 4th time. He took over the first position in the list from Dr. Krasimir Sabev. However, unlike Nikolov and Todorov, in October he appeared in a tough run-off against Stefan Sabrutev and won with a minimal margin of 109 votes. There, GERB holds a result of around 27% in recent years and second place after DPS with one parliamentary mandate.
The former mayor of Sofia, Yordanka Fandakova, will lead the list for the second time in the capital’s 24th MIR. Leader Boyko Borisov (25th MIR in Sofia and Plovdiv), former Speaker of the National Assembly Tsveta Karayancheva (Kardzhali and Plovdiv region) and Delyan Dobrev (Haskovo and Razgrad) will lead two lists.
There are few changes in the other districts – the former sports minister Krasen Kralev will be the first in Pazardzhik. So far #1 there was Ekaterina Zaharieva, who was announced as a Bulgarian European Commissioner. So Varna remains for Daniel Mitov. Instead of Toma Bykov, the first in Silistra will be Milen Deliyski.