Sofia Mayoral Election 2023: A Political Shift in Bulgaria's Capital
The 2023 Sofia mayoral election marked a historic turning point for Bulgaria's capital. After years of political stability under a single party, the city witnessed a highly competitive race to replace Yordanka Fandakova, the long-serving incumbent from the GERB party who had held the office since 2009.
The election process was conducted in two stages: an initial round on October 29, 2023, followed by a runoff on November 5, 2023, as no candidate secured an absolute majority in the first vote.
Key Facts
- Winner: Vasil Terziev won the runoff with 48.2% of the vote.
- Runner-up: Vanya Grigorova received 46.9% of the vote.
- Political Shift: The result ended nearly two decades of dominance by the conservative GERB party in Sofia.
- Margin of Victory: One of the tightest margins in the city's recent electoral history.
- Incumbent: Yordanka Fandakova (GERB) stepped down after serving since 2009.
The Main Candidates
The race featured a diverse array of candidates representing different ideological spectrums of Bulgarian politics.
Vasil Terziev
Representing the reformist coalition We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria – Save Sofia, Terziev entered the race as a tech entrepreneur. He is well-known as the co-founder of Telerik, a prominent software company.
Vanya Grigorova
Grigorova ran with the backing of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and other allied left-wing political organizations.
Anton Hekimyan
The candidate for the center-right GERB–SDS coalition, Hekimyan sought to maintain the party's long-standing hold on the city but was eliminated during the first round of voting.
Other candidates participated from parties such as Revival, Blue Sofia, and ITN, though none of them advanced to the final runoff.
Polling and Election Results
Prior to the vote, polling firms tracked shifting preferences among the electorate. Data from firms like ЕСТАТ and CAM showed a competitive field with varying leads between the reformist and conservative camps.
| Polling Firm | Fieldwork Date | Sample Size | Vasil Terziev | Anton Hekimyan | Vanya Grigorova |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ЕСТАТ | Sept 29 - Oct 9 | 800 | 27.8% | 18.7% | 20.6% |
| CAM | July 21 - 25 | 1,212 | 33.4% | 22.7% | 10.6% |
The final runoff on November 5 resulted in a narrow victory for Vasil Terziev. While Terziev secured 48.2% of the vote, Vanya Grigorova followed closely with 46.9%. Additionally, approximately 4.9% of voters opted for the "I do not support anyone" choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2023 Sofia mayoral election?
Vasil Terziev, a tech entrepreneur and co-founder of Telerik, won the election representing the We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria – Save Sofia coalition.
How close was the final result between the two main candidates?
The result was extremely close, with Vasil Terziev receiving 48.2% of the vote and Vanya Grigorova receiving 46.9%.
Who was the mayor of Sofia before the 2023 election?
Yordanka Fandakova of the GERB party served as the mayor of Sofia from 2009 until the 2023 election.
Which parties supported the runoff candidates?
Vasil Terziev was supported by the reformist coalition We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria – Save Sofia, while Vanya Grigorova was backed by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and allied left-wing parties.
What was the significance of this election for Sofia?
The election represented a major political shift, ending nearly twenty years of dominance by the conservative GERB party in the capital city.