THE first opinion polls in the mayoral elections in Sofia predicted that independent Boiko Borissov and Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) candidate Tatyana Doncheva would go through to a second round.

Mayoral elections are to be held in Sofia and other cities and towns on October 29, to fill vacancies created when various mayors were elected as MPs in the June 25 parliamentary elections.

On October 10, polling agencies Alfa Research, AFIS and Market Links put Borissov as ahead, followed by Doncheva. The agencies did not exclude the possibility of a last-minute change because of the expected low voter turnout.

Behind Doncheva were three centre-right candidates who shared third place: Svetoslav Gavrijski, who is backed by the Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB), Milen Velchev from the National Movement Simeon II (NMSII) and former acting mayor Minko Gerdjikov, who is supported by the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF).

“Anything may be expected by the end of the campaign, but we can be certain that there will not be a winner in the first round,” said AFIS head Yurii Aslanov.   

The formal launch of the campaign on October 5 showed the determination of all candidates to reach every possible voter.

Corruption, waste, street dogs and road repairs were the issues that united the runners on the first day of the campaign.

All candidates were unanimous in blaming former Sofia mayor and current MP Stefan Sofianski for the capital city’s refuse crisis.

The opening media stunts showed differences in approach among the candidates. Doncheva and Velchev both held lavish media launches, in keeping with the resources available to their campaigns and their parties’ dominant role in national politics.

In sparkling style, with white wine, classical music by Vivaldi, and attractive young women from the Visage Modelling Agency, Velchev announced the start of his campaign. He said that he would dismiss bureaucrats and party officials from municipal companies and structures.

Another promise was to review the performance of the municipal companies and stop the Sofia municipality’s inefficient investments in joint ventures and enterprises.

NMSII leader and former prime minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg attended the media launch in a show of support for Velchev.

On the opening day of her campaign, Doncheva said, “I can stop the corruption in the municipality, you know that I can”.

Backed by Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev and other BSP ministers, Doncheva gave a power-point presentation of her promises.

Surprisingly, Doncheva has chosen blue, a colour traditionally associated with Bulgaria’s right-wing parties, rather than BSP’s traditional red as the colour of her campaign.

The other main candidates decided to launch their campaigns in more modest fashion, apparently saving their strength for later.

Another difference between the candidates became clear after the first days of the campaign. Velchev, Borissov and Gavrijski chose the internet as their battlefield for votes, aiming at the young generation of Sofia.

The three runners immediately launched their own websites. Even their first media opportunities were aimed at young people.

Velchev, together with everyone from his headquarters, held a bowling tournament in Studentsi Grad (Students’ Town) in Sofia on October 10. The sight of 20 men in suits, some of them government officials, displaying their bowling skills was cheered by the students – most of whom do not have the right to vote in Sofia.

Borissov, on the other hand, chose a slightly different move.

On October 7, he visited a kindergarten where he was pictured hugging a seven-year-old fan. Later in the week, Borissov followed Velchev’s initiative and went to a disco club in Student’s Town where he received a pop star’s welcome from the students.

A totally different approach was taken by UDF candidate Minko Gerdjikov. On October 10, he visited Donka Paprikova to congratulate her on her 90th birthday. Paprikova is the founder of “Milosardie” (Charity), a hospice for elderly disadvantaged people, and is a highly respected and admired figure in Bulgarian society.

Gerjikov presented her with an icon and received her blessing for his campaign.

Somewhere in the middle range of such activities were the other two main players, Doncheva and Gavrijski.

They decided on direct contact with the citizens of Sofia, discussing down-to-earth problems.

Doncheva visited the suburb of Knyazhevo, notorious for its daily traffic jams and high number of car accidents. She promised that she would solve residents’ problems, starting by reviewing all decisions made by Sofianski about the city’s road network.

Gavrijski’s headquarters announced he was asking five questions of residents.

These questions included whether they agreed he should sack the chief architect of Sofia, and to dismiss all the city’s deputy mayors. Arrangements were being made for Sofians to give their responses to these questions between October 10 and 16.

“I promised that if elected I would seek people’s opinion, and this is just my first step” said Gavrijski.