Sofia’s current mayor Boyko Borisov won a second term of office, according to the first exit polls announced. He wins approximately 51% of votes in the capital city.

According to the preliminary results announced Sunday evening, Martin Zaimov, the candidate of the United Democratic Forces, is second with around 19%. Third is Brigo Asparuhov of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, followed by Slavi Binev (Ataka coalition) with 4.5%.

Antonia Parvanova, candidate of the National Movement Simeon 2 gets around 3.5%. Next is basketball coach Konstantin Papazov who managed to get just 2%. Yuliana Doncheva, nominated by union BG, wins 1.2%.

GERB won the majority of votes in the election of municipal councils in Sofia as well – 46%.

Voter turnout averaged 25.74% countrywide, and nearly 19.48 per cent in Sofia at 5pm on Sunday, the Central Electoral Commission for the Local Elections said.

Plovdid has a new mayor – GERB’s Slavcho Atanasov. In Varna, the independent candidate supported by BSP and current mayor Kiril Yordanov won a third term of office.

The current mayor was reelected for a third term of office in two other big cities in Bulgaria – in Haskovo the independent Georgi Ivanov, supported by BSP, wins with 51%, and in Pleven, current mayor Nayden Zelenogorski gets 51.5%.