2016 Bulgarian presidential election

← 2011 6 November 2016 (first round) 13 November 2016 (second round) 2021 →
Turnout	56.28% (first round) 50.44% (second round)
Nominee Rumen Radev Tsetska Tsacheva Party Independent GERB Running mate Iliana Iotova Plamen Manushev Popular vote 2,063,032 1,256,485 Percentage 59.37% 36.16%
Results by province Radev:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
President before election Rosen Plevneliev GERB Elected President Rumen Radev Independent

Presidential elections were held in Bulgaria on 6 November 2016,^[1] alongside a referendum on changes to the electoral system and political party funding. The second round was held on 13 November 2016, resulting in the victory of Rumen Radev.

The president was elected using the two-round system.^[2] For the first time voters were allowed to vote for none of the above.^[3]

Incumbent president Rosen Plevneliev announced in May 2016 that he would not be running for re-election.^[4]

Presidential candidate	Born	Vice presidential running-mate	Party	Notes
Maj.Gen.Rumen Radev	18 June 1963 (age 53) Town Dimitrovgrad, Region Haskovo, Bulgaria	Iliana Iotova	Independent supported by Bulgarian Socialist Party	General Radev, the former commander of the Bulgarian Air Force,[5] is supported by the Bulgarian Socialist Party and was originally endorsed by the Alternative for Bulgarian Revival, but on 23 August 2016 the Bulgarian Socialist Party denied plans for a common coalition for the presidential elections.[6] Iotova is an MP in the European Parliament.
Tsetska Tsacheva	24 May 1958 (age 58) Village Dragana, Municipality Ugarchin, Region Lovech, Bulgaria	Plamen Manushev	GERB	Tsacheva is the incumbent Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Bulgaria.[7] Manushev is MP.
Krasimir Karakachanov	29 March 1965 (age 51) Rousse, Bulgaria	Yavor Notev	United Patriots	Karachanov is co-chairman of the Patriotic Front and a Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly.[8] Notev is the Deputy Chair of the Attack party and a Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly.
Traycho Traykov	19 April 1970 (age 46) Sofia, Bulgaria	Sabi Sabev	Reformist Bloc	Traykov is the former Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism and is currently a municipal councilor in Sofia.[9] Sabev is a general in the Bulgarian army.
Ivaylo Kalfin	30 May 1964 (age 52) Sofia, Bulgaria	Lyubomir Halachev	Kalfin President Coalition	Kalfin is a Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Former Minister of Labour and Social Policy, as well as the BSP presidential candidate in the 2011 election.[10]
Tatyana Doncheva	28 January 1960 (age 56) Tryavna, Bulgaria	Mincho Spasov	Movement 21 National Movement for Stability and Progress	Doncheva is a jurist and a former MP;[11] Spasov is a jurist and former MP.
Plamen Oresharski	21 February 1960 (age 56) Dupnitsa, Bulgaria	Danail Papazov	Independent supported by Movement for Rights and Freedoms	Oresharski is a former Prime Minister of Bulgaria;[12] Papazov is a former minister of Transport.
George Ganchev	29 August 1939 (age 77) Plovdiv, Bulgaria	Kolyo Paramov	Christian Social Union	Ganchev is a former MP and three-time presidential candidate.[13] Paramov is an economist and former MP.
Velizar Enchev	7 January 1953 (age 63) Galabovo, Bulgaria	Bilyana Grancharova	Movement for Radical Change Bulgarian Spring	Enchev is an independent MP;[14] Grancharova is a jurist.
Veselin Mareshki	26 March 1967 (age 49) Varna, Bulgaria	Petar Petrov	Independent	Mareshki is a businessman.[15]
Dimitar Marinov	15 August 1955 (age 61) Karaisen, Bulgaria	Radoslav Petrov (aka Rado Shisharkata)	Bulgarian National Unification	Marinov (known as Mityo The Pistol) is a popular entertainer and reality show star, having appeared in VIP Brother 1, a spinoff of the Big Brother franchise;[16] Petrov (known as Rado the Fircone) is a pop-folk singer.
Vladimir Kuzov	16 June 1966 (age 50) Sofia, Bulgaria	Borislav Noev	Independent	Kuzov and Noev are former MPs from the union around the Attack party;[17] Their registration in the elections was denied due to insufficient number of signatures gathered.[18]
Aleksandar Tomov	27 April 1954 (age 62) Sofia, Bulgaria	Radoslav Radoslavov	Bulgarian Socialdemocratic-Euroleft	Tomov is a businessman.
Gospodin Tonev	29 November 1955 (age 60) Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria	Andrey Andreev	Bulgarian Democratic Community
Kamen Popov	Bulgaria	Georgi Nedelchev	Independent	Popov is a businessman, sportsman. Popov struck the leader of Attack party Volen Siderov.[19]
Svetoslav Vitkov	26 January 1971 (age 45) Sofia, Bulgaria	Ivan Velkov	Independent supported by People's Voice The Greens	Vitkov is a musician, and a municipal councilor in Sofia;[20] Velkov is a Deputy Chairman of the municipal councilor in Sofia. Their registration in the elections was denied due to insufficient number of signatures gathered.[18]
Kemil Ramadan	Bulgaria	Momchil Dobrev	Balkanic Democratic League
Nikolay Banev	16 August 1959 (age 57) Lyubimets, Bulgaria	Sali Ibrayim	Independent	Banev is a businessman;[21] Ibrayim is a former mayor of Momchilgrad.
Biser Milanov	Bulgaria	Krasimir Nastev	Independent	Milanov is a recidivist;[22] Nastev is a businessman.
Diana Dimitrova	Bulgaria	Gabriel Gerasimov	Independent
Yordanka Koleva	Bulgaria	Veselin Hristov	Independent
Plamen Paskov	Bulgaria	Svetozar Saev	Independent
Rumen Galabinov	Bulgaria	Veska Voleva	Independent

Candidate	Born	Party	Notes
President Rosen Plevneliev	14 May 1964 (age 52) Town Gotse Delchev, Region Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria	Independent	[23]
Prime Minister Boyko Borisov	13 June 1959 (age 57) Town Bankya, Region Sofia, Bulgaria	GERB	Endorsed Tsetska Tsacheva[24]

Gallup exit polling suggested the following demographic breakdown.

Following the results of the second round, Prime Minister and GERB leader Boiko Borisov tendered his resignation.^[26] Two days later, on 16 November, the National Assembly voted 218–0 to accept it, resulting in early parliamentary elections.^[27]