Campaign trail: Gyurov wants NATO talks, Hristanov warns of low turnout

Presidential candidate Andrey Gyurov told voters in Razgrad that Bulgaria needs an independent head of state who acts as a check on those in power and proposes solutions rather than merely wielding a veto. If elected, he would immediately start consultations with allies under Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty, including Romania and Turkey. Gyurov backs Bulgaria's participation in the Coalition of the Willing and NATO's counter-drone initiative, as well as reform of the prosecution service.

In Burgas, Ivan Hristanov, running with Stoyanka Cherkezova, warned that low turnout would call the president's legitimacy into question. He urged media to give candidates more airtime and recalled that he had called for the Radev government to resign on Monday. Bulgaria is paying 185 million euros per missile system while Switzerland pays 107 million, he said.

Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov said in Sliven that Bulgaria must defend its national interests and pursue an independent foreign policy. He asked why only the Russian ambassador had been asked for an explanation and not the Ukrainian side, and criticised President Iliana Iotova. Kostadinov, whose running mate is Petar Volgin, aims to reach the runoff.