Iliyan Yotova Leads Bulgaria’s Presidential Election, Runoff Set for November 1
Iliyan Yotova won the first round of Bulgaria’s presidential election with 34.76% of the vote, ahead of former prime minister Andrey Gyurov with 31.94%. The runoff is scheduled for November 1, when voters will also elect the vice president.
Key points
- Yotova led the first round with 34.76% after 99.94% of election commission protocols were processed.
- Andrey Gyurov finished second with 31.94%.
- Kostadin Kostadinov placed third with 12.54%.
- The presidential runoff will take place on November 1.
- Yotova is temporarily serving as Bulgaria’s president.
- Bulgarian voters choose the president and vice president simultaneously.
- In the runoff, voters will choose between the Yotova and Gyurov presidential tickets.
Why it matters
The runoff will determine who will lead Bulgaria for the next five years. Yotova’s victory could bring a shift in Sofia’s approach toward Russia, military assistance to Ukraine and national security. The outcome will also affect the choice of vice president because both offices are decided at the same time.
What happened
Iliyan Yotova won the first round of Bulgaria’s presidential election, receiving 34.76% of the vote based on 99.94% of processed election commission protocols. Former prime minister Andrey Gyurov came second with 31.94%, while Kostadin Kostadinov took third place with 12.54%. A runoff between Yotova and Gyurov is scheduled for November 1. Yotova is temporarily performing the duties of Bulgaria’s president in the meantime.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian outlets highlighted the contrast between the two candidates’ approaches. Yotova supports dialogue with Russia and opposes military assistance to Ukraine. Gyurov signed a security agreement with Ukraine during a visit to Kyiv in March 2026 and supports closer cooperation with Ukraine and the continuation of Bulgaria’s pro-Western course within the EU and NATO.
Background
Bulgaria’s president is elected directly for a five-year term. Citizens vote directly for a candidate pair consisting of a president and a vice president, who are elected simultaneously. To win in the first round, a pair must receive more than 50% of valid votes, with turnout exceeding half of all eligible voters. In July, Bulgaria’s prime minister said the country was leaving the “coalition of the willing” and would not provide military assistance to Ukraine. On October 21, Bulgaria declined to finance the purchase of new lethal weapons for Ukraine.