Belgrade / Sofia, 23 October. On Sunday, 25 October, Serbia holds early parliamentary elections in which about 6.45 million voters will choose 250 deputies from 18 lists, and Bulgaria holds the first round of its presidential election, in which incumbent President Iliana Yotova faces former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, Anadolu reports.
In Serbia the main contest is between the ruling Serbian Progressive Party's list, "Aleksandar Vucic – United Serbia", and the "Student List – Students Win". Vucic stepped down as president at the end of September to seek the premiership after two presidential terms, the constitution barring a third. His resignation also triggered an early presidential election, which by law must be held within three months. The Progressive Party, part of every governing coalition since 2012, is campaigning on stability, infrastructure construction and economic growth.
The Student List emerged from the protests that followed the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad in November 2024, which killed 16 people. Its programme centres on holding those responsible to account, the rule of law and stronger public institutions. Ivica Dacic's Socialist Party opposes recognising Kosovo's independence, sanctions on Russia and NATO membership; the European Serbia coalition supports EU membership. The campaign has been complicated by a diplomatic row: Serbia sent Croatia a protest note over alleged interference in the election.
In Bulgaria the presidential race, according to analysts cited by Anadolu, has become a test of the country's foreign policy direction. Yotova is backed by Prime Minister Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party, which won an absolute majority of 131 of 240 seats in April. Since May the government has halted military deliveries to Ukraine after 13 aid packages, left the Coalition of the Willing in July and opposed the EU's 21st sanctions package against Russia. Gyurov, backed by the opposition, is "very pro-Euro-Atlantic oriented", according to analyst Stoyan Panov, while Yotova "takes a rather ambiguous position". A runoff is likely on 1 November.
What it means: In two Balkan countries, a single day will decide how firmly they orient themselves towards the EU and how they handle relations with Russia. In Serbia it is also a test of whether Vucic can keep power by swapping the presidency for the premiership.
Who benefits: In Serbia, either Vucic's ruling party or the student movement that has turned protest into an electoral list. In Bulgaria, either the Radev government's cautious course towards Moscow or an opposition that wants a more consistent pro-European line.
Background: Under the constitution, Bulgaria's president represents the country abroad and has a number of defence and security responsibilities, while the government directs foreign policy. Drone attacks on four merchant ships in Bulgarian waters became a flashpoint of the campaign.
List of sources used: Anadolu
Artificial intelligence was used in preparing this material.
