PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
Dnevnik reports that presidential candidate pair Iliana Iotova – Kiril Valchev would receive 44.5% of the vote, according to an Alpha Research survey of the candidates’ starting positions. Sociologist Genoveva Petrova of Alpha Research told Bulgarian National Television (BNT) that low voter turnout and the large share of undecided voters could lead to a surprise.
Andrey Gurov – Georgi Kandev rank second with 26.1%, followed by Vazrazhdane’s Kostadin Kostadinov – Petar Volgin with 10.5%. Ivan Hristanov – Stoyanka Cherkezova have 3.4%, while Radostin Vassilev and Velichie candidate Ivelin Mihaylov have 2.2% each.
Petrova said that a runoff is currently the most likely outcome, as none of the candidates would exceed the 50% threshold in the first round of voting. She said it would be difficult to mobilize additional voters and that turnout was more likely to fall further, with more undecided and moderate voters staying home.
The survey was conducted between September 24 and October 1 among 1,000 adults nationwide using a two-stage quota sample and face-to-face standardized tablet interviews at respondents’ homes. It was conducted with Alpha Research’s own funds.
Dnevnik highlights the expected turnout of around 37%, or between 2.4 million and 2.6 million voters. According to Petrova, around 70% of voters have not changed their preference since the start of the campaign, while the remaining nearly one-third could still change their mind.
Nearly 42% of respondents said they were disappointed with all politicians, while 25.6% said they did not identify with any of the candidates. Petrova said many of those disappointed were among voters who participated in the parliamentary elections in April but had not seen any real change. She added that many of those who do not identify with any candidate are supporters of GERB and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, neither of which has nominated a candidate or clearly announced whom it supports.
24 Chasa also leads with the Alpha Research findings, saying a runoff between Iotova – Valchev and Gurov – Kandev is virtually certain at this stage. It gives the full breakdown of support among those who have firmly decided to vote: Iotova – Valchev, 44.5%; Gurov – Kandev, 26.1%; Kostadinov – Volgin, 10.5%; Hristanov – Cherkezova, 3.4%; Vassilev – Krasimir Manov, 2.5%; Mihaylov – Yuliana Mateeva, 2.2%; Nikolay Nenchev – Tsveta Kirilova, 1.8%; Ivaylo Simeonov – Kosyo Stoychev, 1.6%; and Georgi Dimov – Dimitar Shivikov, 0.9%.
Bulgarian National Television (BNT) also focuses on the Alpha Research survey. It reports that presidential elections are attracting less interest than the parliamentary elections held several months ago and that turnout is expected to be around 37%. BNT quotes Petrova as saying that the reluctance to vote is primarily a result of the political offering rather than the election campaign itself.
BNT highlights the finding that one-third of voters who currently say whom they would support are not completely certain and could change their choice before the first round. It also reports the 44.5% support for Iotova – Valchev, 26.1% for Gurov – Kandev and 10.5% for Kostadinov – Volgin.
RETURN OF TSAR SAMUEL’S REMAINS – COVERAGE
BNT reports that its Director General Milena Milotinova thanked and congratulated the entire team involved in covering the return of the remains of Tsar Samuel. She said that content published by BNT in the digital space had generated 4 million views by Monday morning.
BNT provided a broadcast signal of the event to other Bulgarian and foreign media through the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Milotinova said BNT used 50 cameras, 40 of them on location in Bulgaria and Greece, and described the coverage as a strong achievement given the short time available for preparations.
Dnevnik reports that BNT has recorded more than 4 million views of its digital coverage of the return of Tsar Samuel’s remains. It also notes that the television broadcaster had previously said its live coverage reached 794,000 viewers.
STATE SECURITY AND PROTECTION OF HIGH-RANKING OFFICIALS
Mediapool examines the organization of state protection for senior politicians and officials in several European countries, arguing that although the existence of such protection is generally not disputed, the model and criteria for assigning it remain subject to controversy.
The article focuses particularly on Bulgaria’s National Service for Protection (NSP), saying that questions remain over how it determines who should receive costly state protection. It notes that decisions are made by a commission including the NSP chief, the State Agency for National Security (SANS) head and the Interior Ministry Secretary General, and argues that political interests often appear to influence such decisions.
Mediapool compares the Bulgarian system with those in Romania, Greece, Austria, Lithuania, Spain and the Czech Republic, highlighting scandals or controversies involving state protection services in several countries.
The article also discusses the Romanian case of General Lucian Pahontu, head of the Protection and Guard Service since 2005, who has been linked by investigative reporting to former communist-era security structures. It notes calls by more than 25 NGOs and civic organizations for his resignation or dismissal.
In Greece, Mediapool examines the case of television presenter Menios Fourthiotis, who was provided with substantial police protection despite prosecutors reportedly finding that the legal requirements had not been met. It also cites controversy over police protection provided to the private law firm of former Greek prime minister’s secretary-general Grigoris Dimitriadis.
The article reviews the systems in Austria, Lithuania, Spain and the Czech Republic, including questions of parliamentary oversight, personal-data protection and isolated failures by security personnel.
PRESIDENTIAL PARDON OF CONVICTED DRUG TRAFFICKER
Mediapool publishes a video that it says shows a man believed to be Ognyan Atanasov, known as the “Petrich Escobar,” fighting inside the prison hospital only three weeks before he was pardoned by then-Vice President Iliana Iotova.
According to the article, Atanasov was pardoned on December 5, 2022, with 10 years of his sentence remitted on health grounds. At the time, his sentence had already been interrupted for two years for medical reasons. Mediapool says that after his pardon he recovered and was arrested in 2025 with five kilogrammes of cocaine.
The publication says the footage raises questions about the circumstances surrounding the pardon and whether the incident was reflected in the information submitted to the Pardons Commission. Mediapool has sent questions to the Justice Ministry and the Presidency regarding the case, including whether prison officials were consulted and whether any members of the Pardons Commission opposed the decision.
DEMOGRAPHY AND THE “I CHOOSE BULGARIA” PROGRAMME
Capital examines the government’s “I Choose Bulgaria” programme, aimed first at encouraging qualified Bulgarians living abroad to return and subsequently at encouraging people to move from large cities to smaller towns and villages.
According to the publication, 1,884 people returned to Bulgaria under the first component of the programme in 2025-2026, exceeding the initial target of 870. The programme’s budget was increased from EUR 13.5 million to EUR 19 million because of strong demand.
Capital notes, however, that the numbers remain small compared with overall migration trends. In 2025, more than 26,000 people moved to Sofia, while fewer than 16,000 left the capital.
The second component of the programme is intended to encourage at least 1,050 working-age people to move from 16 large cities to smaller settlements with populations of less than 50,000. The programme offers relocation assistance, rent support, transport allowances and an employment incentive, with total support potentially exceeding EUR 10,000 per participant.
Capital questions whether the programme is sufficiently targeted at areas suffering from depopulation and labour shortages. It notes that the government does not intend to direct participants to specific regions and concludes that while the programme could provide a short-term incentive, longer-term settlement would require investment in infrastructure, business conditions, public services and quality of life.
PENSION FUNDS
Capital reports that clients of private pension companies have entered a period in which they can choose how their pension savings will be managed. A reform of the Social Security Code provides that from the beginning of 2027 the universal pension funds operated by each company will be divided into three sub-funds with different risk profiles: dynamic, balanced and conservative.
The publication says the reform will also have major implications for pension companies, introducing new capital requirements, increasing guarantee reserves and creating additional administrative and technological costs.
Capital notes that pension companies will have to build capital equivalent to between 1.1% and 2% of the net assets of the funds they manage over a 10-year period. Guarantee reserves will also increase.
The new system is expected to intensify competition between pension funds, as portfolio managers will be compared not only with each other but also with a benchmark consisting of several stock and bond indices.
At the same time, fee ceilings will gradually decline, while an increasing share of companies’ remuneration will depend on investment performance. Capital says this could lead to significantly lower revenues for pension companies in years of zero or negative returns and could encourage consolidation in the sector.
MURDER OF BUSINESSMAN ILIAN FILIPOV
Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) reports that the Plovdiv District Court remanded in custody the man accused of murdering businessman Ilian Filipov over gambling-related debts.
BNR quotes journalist Boris Mitov as saying that the court hearing was the first occasion on which the existence of an alleged illegal betting scheme, or “black betting,” was publicly disclosed.
Mitov describes the situation in Plovdiv as involving intertwined business, political and criminal interests and questions whether the personal financial motive cited in the case could obscure broader issues surrounding Filipov’s business and political connections.
He says that previous investigations into illegal betting have ended without charges or convictions and argues that all allegations and possible links should be investigated.
Mitov also discusses the backgrounds of Filipov and the accused, as well as questions surrounding other individuals linked to the case. He expresses doubts that the Petrohan murders case will reach the courts and suggests it could instead be used for political purposes.
GAS STORAGE
Trud reports on statements by Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller that European countries are setting “anti-records” in underground gas storage capacity ahead of the winter season.
According to Gazprom, European underground gas storage facilities were 72% full as of October 1, with active gas volumes 11.3 billion cubic metres below their level a year earlier.
The newspaper says Russian media had previously reported that Europe had accumulated the lowest gas reserves for the traditional start of the heating season since 2011. It notes that EU rules require member states to ensure that their storage facilities are 90% full between October 1 and December 1, with a 10% flexibility margin in difficult circumstances.
ROAD SAFETY – GUARDRAILS
Trud reports that the executive director of Avtomagistrali, Ivan Genov, submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Rumen Radev on October 2, citing sources from the Institute for Road Safety.
According to the organization, Genov disagreed with taking responsibility for the installation of guardrails imported from Türkiye that allegedly lack valid documentation, quality and operating certificates and warranties.
The Institute for Road Safety claims that Genov objected to the manner in which the guardrails were being replaced and alleges that Regional Development Minister Ivan Shishkov had pressured the state company to install them without certificates, installation instructions, designs or contracts.
The organization calls for the resignation of Road Infrastructure Agenct Management Board Chairman Aleksandar Todorov and asks Prime Minister Radev who decided that the guardrails should be installed and why.
24 Chasa also covers the issue.
NUCLEAR ENERGY
Duma reports on statements by Bulgarian Socialist Party MEP Tsvetelina Penkova at the fifth International Nuclear Conference “Nuclear Energy – From Ambitions to Implementation,” organized by the Bulgarian Energy and Mining Forum and Ivan Hinovski.
Penkova said that European and national public funding should be used to attract private investment in new nuclear capacity. According to her, the European Commission estimates that around EUR 241 billion will be needed by 2050 for the extension of existing reactors and construction of new large nuclear facilities.
She stressed that the changing European policy toward nuclear energy is directly relevant to Bulgaria and called for the development of new nuclear capacity, preservation of nuclear expertise and completion of existing projects.
Penkova also highlighted the inclusion of nuclear energy in the EU’s next seven-year budget and cited recent European Investment Bank financing for nuclear projects in Romania and Finland.
She stressed that new nuclear capacity must be developed alongside electricity transmission infrastructure and cross-border connectivity, arguing that generation and grids should be planned as an integrated system.
INVESTIGATION AT PLOVDIV HOSPITAL
Sega reports that the economic police and prosecutors launched an operation at St George University Hospital in Plovdiv.
According to Nova TV, authorities entered the hospital shortly before 8 a.m. Monday, sealed off the rheumatology clinic, questioned doctors and patients and seized documentation. Some patients due to be admitted were reportedly turned away.
The investigation reportedly concerns financial crimes, most likely alleged draining of funds from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). There was no official information from the Interior Ministry, prosecutors or the hospital at the time of publication.
The news is covered by major Bulgarian media outlets.
PROPOSED TAX BREAK FOR FAMILIES
Sega examines the government’s planned tax changes, including a new “child development” tax allowance intended to reimburse parents for part of their children’s expenses on extracurricular activities, sports, private lessons, textbooks, clothing and shoes, and private kindergarten fees.
The proposed allowance would provide a tax reduction of EUR 200 for one child, EUR 400 for two children and EUR 600 for three or more children, provided that the expenses are documented with receipts, invoices or other payment documents.
Sega questions how effectively the measure could work, particularly for private lessons, where cash payments without receipts are reportedly widespread.
The Association of Language Centres estimates that at least EUR 250 million circulates annually in the grey market for private lessons and says that 87% of parents surveyed pay in cash and receive no receipt or other payment document.
The article quotes the Association of Parents as saying that the tax allowance could help some families but would not be sufficient on its own. Families must first be able to afford the expenditure, while many smaller communities lack sufficient sports clubs, cultural activities and other extracurricular opportunities.
The association therefore calls for a combination of measures, including school-based programmes, vouchers for extracurricular activities, targeted municipal funding and additional support for low-income families.
ILLEGAL HORSE SLAUGHTERHOUSE
bTV reports that police in the southern city of Sliven uncovered an illegal horse slaughterhouse near the village of Samuilovo.
A 48-year-old man from the village was detained after police found him disposing of animal remains. Investigators discovered a facility for slaughtering animals at his home and around 200 kilogrammes of meat, which is to be destroyed at a rendering plant.
The operation was carried out jointly with the Sliven Regional Food Safety Directorate. The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency, the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water, the Basin Directorate and Sliven Municipality were notified.
Pre-trial proceedings have been opened.
BOMB THREATS
NOVA reports a series of bomb threats against public buildings in several Bulgarian cities.
Threats were received in Montana, Razgrad, Isperih, Lovech and Shumen, prompting the evacuation of courts, a prosecutor’s office, a hospital, a kindergarten, municipal and regional government buildings and other institutions.
In Razgrad, bomb threats were sent by email to the District Court and District Prosecutor’s Office, while similar threats were received by the hospital in Isperih and a kindergarten in Razgrad.
In Lovech, employees were evacuated from the Regional Administration, Lovech Municipality and an administrative building.
Two threats were also reported in the Shumen area, one against Shumen Municipality and another against a kindergarten in the village of Ivanski. Police and fire service teams carried out checks at the affected locations.
Media Review: October 5 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-05 09:42:16
Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news. Bulgaria news, Bulgarian news, news from Bulgaria, latest news Bulgaria, breaking news Bulgaria, Bulgaria today, Bulgarian politics, Bulgarian government. Bulgarian economy, Bulgarian business, Bulgarian society, Bulgarian culture, Bulgarian tourism, Bulgarian sports, Bulgarian media, Bulgarian parliament. Sofia news, Plovdiv news, Varna news, Burgas news, Ruse news, Stara Zagora news, Pleven news, Sliven news. Dobrich news, Shumen news, Pernik news, Haskovo news, Yambol news, Pazardzhik news, Blagoevgrad news, Veliko Tarnovo news. Vratsa news, Gabrovo news, Asenovgrad news, Vidin news, Bulgarian local news, Bulgaria current affairs, Bulgaria breaking news, Bulgaria headlines. Balkan news, Southeast Europe news, Bulgarian international news, Bulgaria world news, Bulgarian elections, Bulgaria events, Bulgaria analysis, Bulgaria updates.Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law.
BULGARIA NEWS – NEWS AGENCY 2009–2026 2026-10-05 09:42:16
