Bulgaria votes in presidential runoff after tight first round
The race comes amid record-low turnout and rising concern over Black Sea drone attacks, with both candidates taking sharply different positions on Russia and Ukraine.
- On Sunday, November 1, 2026, acting President Iliana Iotova led Bulgaria's presidential runoff against challenger Andrey Gyurov, according to exit polls. If official results confirm this lead, Iotova is on course to win the presidency.
- The runoff pitted Iotova, who advocates for negotiations with Moscow, against Gyurov, a former caretaker prime minister favoring stronger NATO ties and support for Ukraine. Their contrasting foreign policy visions defined the campaign.
- Exit polls indicate Iotova secured between 50.7% and 52.5% of the vote, while Gyurov trailed with about 43.4% to 44.7%. Voter turnout remained low, though polling agencies reported it was slightly higher than the first round.
- Victory would make Iotova the country's first elected female head of state, transitioning from her appointed caretaker role. Gyurov conceded defeat, saying "this is how the Bulgarian citizens have voted," and urged acceptance of the results.
- Election officials expect to certify final results on Monday, November 2, 2026, following the count of all ballots. This outcome concludes a highly polarized contest marked by regional security concerns and ongoing economic challenges.
341 Articles
341 Articles
Reformatorisch Dagblad
Bulgarian interim president Iliana Jotova has won the second and decisive round of the presidential election, according to three exit polls. She can count on 50.7 to 52.5 percent of the vote. Jotova’s opponent Andrey Gyurov, a banker and former interim prime minister, is projected to receive 43.4 to 44 percent of the vote.
Yotova wins runoff to become Bulgaria’s first elected female president, unofficial count shows
Acting President Iliana Yotova is winner in the country’s presidential runoff, early returns show, and her opponent has conceded. She will become the first elected female president in the nation's history.
The urn-foot surveys give him between 50.7% and 52.5% of the votes against pro-Western Andrei Gyurov, in a vote marked by security tensions in the Black Sea
Bulgaria will have an elected female president for the first time. According to exit polls, pro-Russian Iliana Jotova has secured 56 to 58 percent of the vote. Her opponent, pro-European Andrey Gyurov, who received 38 to 40 percent, has congratulated her on the victory. The official results are expected tomorrow, once all votes have been counted. Jotova (62) is currently interim president. She was vice president from 2017 until early this year,…
The Daily Item
Western InvestorInitial results suggest Yotova wins runoff to become Bulgaria’s first elected female president
Acting President Iliana Yotova is the apparent winner of Bulgaria’s presidential runoff. That's according to initial results on Sunday. Former interim Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov conceded defeat. Yotova received 58% of the vote, and if confirmed, she would become Bulgaria’s…
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