Sofians seem to have shown little interest in the six mayoral elections taking place in the country today, November 15. Just one hour before polling stations close, it seemed that there has been a record low turnout in the capital. 

The Sofia mayoral contest has been widely regarded as a shoo-in for Education Minister Yordanka Fandukova, riding high on the current popularity of the Government of Prime Minister Boiko Borissov's Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (abbreviated as GERB). Fandukova's candidacy was supported by Ivan Kostov's Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB) as well as by ultra-nationalist party Ataka.

Fandukova's opponent, the Socialist Party's (BSP) candidate Georgi Kadev, is widely perceived to have run a lacklustre campaign, dogged by recriminations in the BSP over their crushing election defeat in July's parliamentary elections and a longstanding controversy over former prime minister Sergei Stanishev's handling of classified information.

Four hours before polling stations close at 7pm, it was reported that fewer than 15 per cent of registered voters in Sofia had cast a ballot for the job that will pick a successor to Borissov. The same turnout was apparently registered in the northwestern city of Vratsa. Just one hour before polls were due to close it was reported that turnout had risen to just over 21 per cent.

The village of Beglezh, near Pleven, currently tops the turnout ranking with more than half registered voters casting their ballots as of 3pm. Next comes the southwestern region of Razlog, where the turnout reached 39.52 per cent and the town of Pravetz with just over 30 per cent of eligible voters casting their ballots.

Speaking earlier on November 15, Borissov said he was very hopeful that Fandukova would be declared Sofia's first woman mayor.

However, a question mark still hangs over the margin of Fandukova's victory because hardcore BSP voters traditionally turn out to vote more consistently than voters of other parties. So, in this way, a low turnout could favour the BSP.

Fandukova, 47, is a graduate of the Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski and a former highschool principal. In between 2005, and taking up her post as Education Minister earlier this year, she served as Borissov’s deputy for culture, education and sport in the Sofia city hall.