Yotova claimed that “Produlzhavame Promyana” (PP) and “Demokratichna Bulgaria” (DB), which supported rival candidate Andrei Gyurow, seek to revive a “sglodka” — a term associated with past political coalitions and alleged corruption — to destabilize the cabinet.
Yotova’s claims align with statements from Petar Vitanov, leader of PP’s parliamentary group, who alleged that Gyurow had met with former leader Delyan Pevski. Gyurow denied the accusation, calling it a “lie” in a press release. The first-round election results, which Yotova narrowly won by less than 3%, highlighted the high stakes. “PP and DB, which backed Gyurow, want to return to the murky times of personal interests,” Yotova said, citing her campaign materials.
Yotova’s Warning of Cabinet Collapse
Yotova’s campaign framed her bid as a defense against a return to “the era of the sglodka,” a system she claims prioritizes personal gain over governance. She accused Gyurow of being controlled by figures like Asen Vasilev and Ivailo Mirchev, while also alleging that a major Gyurow supporter has ties to a Ukrainian drone manufacturing company. “The old sglodka, no matter how hidden, is rusting,” Radev said, echoing Yotova’s rhetoric.
Yotova further claimed that PP and DB would “recreate the era of the sglodka,” aiming to “destabilize the government, have Asen Vasilev become prime minister, and return to the instability of the past,” according to a statement from her campaign. She also accused Gyurow of “not speaking in 90% of cases, with Asen Vasilev, Ivailo Mirchev, and Bojidar Bojanov speaking on his behalf,” as reported by Source 1. She also alleged that a "major supporter of Gyurow has a large Ukrainian company for drone production," though she did not specify the entity.
Yotova emphasized that her loss would "allow PP and DB to provoke a political crisis and overthrow Radev's government," a scenario she linked to her broader critique of Bulgaria's political environment.
Gyurow Denies Alleged Schemes
Gyurow rejected accusations of colluding with Pevski, calling them “desperate lies” intended to obscure threats to Bulgaria’s national security.
Source 2 reveals that Yotova’s campaign and PP’s Vitanov argued that a Gyurow victory would “destabilize the cabinet and lead to new elections for the National Assembly,” despite PP’s parliamentary majority. Vitanov alleged that “GЕRБ likely transferred votes to Gyurow on the first round” and warned that a Gyurow win “would block the formation of the Supreme Judicial Council.” Gyurow denied meeting Pevski, calling the claim “an absurd lie” in a press release, while accusing PP of spreading “desperate lies” to mask national security risks.
Yotova also criticized Gyurow’s stance on Ukraine, stating that his supporters “want the war in Ukraine to continue,” which she framed as a “business for parts of Bulgaria’s political system.” She contrasted this with her own position, advocating for “peaceful resolution of the conflict” and criticizing the “pouring of resources into the war” at the expense of Bulgarian citizens.
Voter Turnout and Political Dynamics
Yotova addressed low voter turnout, calling it an “illusion” that non-participation could “bring change to the country.” She emphasized the need for “stable governance” over “coalitions” and reiterated her commitment to Bulgaria’s sovereignty. “I would not want Bulgaria to be governed by coalitions again, but by stable management,” she stated, per Source 3.
Candidate for vice president Kiril Vlachev declared, “Bulgaria will have its female president,” while criticizing the “second political force” for its absence in the election. Vlachev also challenged Gyurow to a debate, urging him to “not hide as he did in ‘Referendum’ on BNT.” Source 3 also noted that Yotova framed her campaign as a fight against the “era of the sglodka,” which she linked to years of “division and confrontation.”
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