In brief
Sofia – Bulgaria’s Central Election Commission found no violation of election law by Prime Minister Rumen Radev after he urged voters to support Iliana Iotova via state‑run media. The Yes, Bulgaria party, which led 105 complaints, says the commission’s refusal to address key questions over the use of government channels will lead to an immediate appeal. The case highlights tensions over campaign fairness amid the presidential election.
Sofia, Bulgaria – In a decision that will spark a legal battle, the Central Election Commission (CEC) ruled that Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s remarks urging voters to support presidential candidate Iliana Iotova did not breach the Election Code, a finding that the Yes, Bulgaria political party says will be challenged in court.
Central Election Commission Decision
The CEC adopted an 8‑to‑7 vote to dismiss the complaint lodged by 105 parties and NGOs that the Prime Minister’s speech, delivered on Monday and disseminated through government channels, constituted electioneering.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) found no administrative violation of the Election Code in Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s statement.The commission highlighted that the remarks were made outside any state or municipal agency, that they were issued on October 26 – well before the official campaign period – and that they did not amount to campaign material under Article 183 of the Election Code.
Party’s Planned Appeal
Yes, Bulgaria, a member of the parliamentary group Democratic Bulgaria, has announced that it will appeal the CEC’s ruling immediately.
Yes, Bulgaria said that the majority in the CEC, formed by representatives of Progressive Bulgaria and Vazrazhdane, “did everything possible to avoid answering the question of whether it is permissible for the official website and press service of the Council of Ministers to disseminate Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s call to support a specific presidential candidate.”The party noted that the commission’s proceedings “shifted arguments throughout the meeting, responsibility was passed around, and the only thing that remained unchanged was the CEC’s unwillingness to rule on the merits of the matter.” It added that this refusal “is particularly alarming because we are not talking about a party page, a personal profile, or a campaign platform. We are talking about the official communication channels of the Council of Ministers, maintained with public funds.”
In its statement, Yes, Bulgaria warned that the CEC should not become an “institutional shield that protects those in power from scrutiny” and that the commission’s independence is “an obligation to apply the law equally to everyone.” The party’s appeal will focus on the commission’s refusal to decide on the 105 complaints concerning the use of the Government Information Service and the official channels of the Council of Ministers to support Iliana Iotova.
The controversy underscores a broader debate about the fairness of campaign practices. Critics argue that a government‑run press release of the Prime Minister’s endorsement effectively served as campaign material, giving the incumbent an unfair advantage. Supporters of the CEC decision maintain that the timing and context of the speech fall outside the legal definition of electioneering. The case will test how Bulgaria interprets the Election Code’s limits on public officials’ political statements and the role of state media during an election period.
