Exit Polls Suggest that Yotova Wins Runoff to Become Bulgaria’s First Elected Female President
Exit polls put Iotova ahead with about 51% as low turnout and a sharp split over Russia and Ukraine shape the runoff.
- On Nov. 1, 2026, Acting President Iliana Iotova led Bulgaria's presidential runoff against challenger Andrey Gyurov, according to exit polls; a victory would make her the country's first elected female head of state.
- Foreign policy defined the campaign, with Iotova maintaining that "peace can come only through negotiations" regarding Ukraine, while Gyurov demanded explicit blame for recent Black Sea drone attacks.
- Exit polls project Iotova receiving 50.7% to 52.5% of the vote, compared to 43.4% to 44% for Gyurov; turnout reached 27% to 29%, slightly higher than the record-low 23% on Oct. 25, 2026.
- Gyurov conceded defeat, saying "this is how the Bulgarian citizens have voted." Official results are expected Monday, formalizing Iotova's transition from acting president since January 2026.
- Iotova is expected to balance Bulgaria's European path with improved relations with Russia; however, analysts suggest the low voter turnout raises questions about the political weight of her mandate.
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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
<p>In Bulgaria, the opponent of aid to Ukraine - the Exitpol Ilyana Yotov wins the presidential elections with 52.5% against 43.4% for the pro-Western Andrey Gurov. The final results will be announced by the Election Commission.</p>
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 outgoing President Iliana Iotova, who pleads for dialogue with Moscow in order to end the war in Ukraine, won the presidential election in Bulgaria on Sunday, November 1, according to several polls after the ballot.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, congratulated Iliana Jotova on her victory in the second round of the presidential elections in Bulgaria.
"From security and defense to competitiveness and our energy independence, I look forward to continuing our cooperation," von der Leyen wrote.
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