Iliana Yotova chooses Kiril Valchev as candidate for vice-president

President Iliana Yotova announced on September 4, 2026 that she has chosen Kiril Valchev, the director-general of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency, as her running mate for the upcoming presidential election in October. Yotova spoke to reporters outside Bulgaria Hall in Sofia, where the Sofia Philharmonic is opening its 2026/2027 season.

Yotova: vice-president must know the state and its laws

Speaking at the event, Yotova said a vice-president must have a deep knowledge of the country’s laws and the workings of state institutions. "For many years we have had a shared cause — to preserve Bulgarianness, to develop Bulgarian identity, the Bulgarian spirit, Bulgarian literacy, the letters. A vice-president must know how to communicate with people, to be close to them, in Bulgaria and with Bulgarians abroad. It was also our common cause — to work with Bulgarian communities, for their preservation and protection, because it is not easy everywhere, and for their development," she said.

Yotova announced the ticket in front of Bulgaria Hall and took the opportunity to attend the Philharmonic’s season-opening concert as a guest.

Kiril Valchev reacted to the nomination by stressing that he had not sought the candidacy. "God is my witness — I did not aim to be a candidate for vice-president. I accept President Yotova's invitation as recognition not for me, but for the BTA. An institution of consensus, of communication with Bulgarians around the world, of memory and of something needed in the presidency — consensus. But consensus does not mean identical," he said, recalling his long media career, including 28 years at Darik Radio.

Valchev said he sees himself as "another guarantor in the presidency for two things — democracy and Bulgaria in Europe, where our people have contributed for 14 centuries, and our generation placed the Bulgarian alphabet among the three alphabets in the European Union." He called on citizens to respect all candidates, because they are prepared to serve the Bulgarian people and the country.

Valchev also said he will hand over current duties to his colleagues tomorrow and will take unpaid leave next week for the duration of the campaign. He told reporters he received Yotova’s invitation in August after a series of conversations.

Yotova announced that the founding meeting of the campaign’s initiative committee will be held on September 8 at 17:00 in Hall 6, where she said civil and non-governmental organisations, political parties and individual supporters who back the ticket will be present.

Photo: press material from the event