Boris Bonev

The US Embassy in Sofia issued a position on warnings to Boris Bonev and Atanas Chobanov about possible threats against them.

The Sofia City Council adopted the metropolitan's budget for this year with 33 votes in favor, 26 against and 1 abstained. The debate lasted four hours. BSP and Democratic Bulgaria did not support the budget.

The waste collection tax in Sofia remains unchanged for the following year. More money for cleaning streets and less money for the old landfills are provided in the draft estimate for cleanliness of Sofia for 2021. It was adopted by the Sofia Municipal Council with 32 votes „for", 26 "against" and 2 abstentions.

Control of 19 out of 28 regional cities in Bulgaria will be contested in the second round of local elections held on 3 November, though experts predict little drama and a repeat - albeit less decisive - victory for the ruling GERB party of Prime Minister Boyko Borsissov, compared to its record 2015 local elections result.

The CEC published the results of the first-round local elections in the country with 100% tally sheets processed.

There are still protocols in Sofia and Shumen:

There will be a second round in Sofia and a number of regional cities. GERB remains the strongest party, the BSP improves its results and goes on a run-off in a number of regional cities. The big surprise of the vote is the breakthrough of the independent candidate Boris Bonev in Sofia. At the same time, Bulgaria rejected national populists.

Sofia failed to elect a mayor in the first round. According to initial forecast results, there will be a second round between current mayor Yordanka Fandakova and independent Maya Manolova. 35.4% of the electorate voted for Yordanka Fandakova and 26.2% for Maya Manolova, according to the exit poll data from Alpha Research.

There are four candidates for mayor of Sofia who have so far said they will fight for the post.

For current mayor Yordanka Fandakova, this will be a battle for a fourth term. As she entered this race, she said that Sofia's development was a cause for her and "long-distance running", in which maintaining the pace was important.

Boris Bonev is the first to announce his candidacy for mayor of Sofia in the upcoming October 27 local elections. His program for the development of the city is presented on 300 pages and is called "Plan for Sofia".