Bulgaria holds presidential runoff between Iliana Yotova and Andrey Gyurov
Bulgaria held the second round of its presidential election on 1 November between incumbent president Iliana Yotova and former interim prime minister Andrey Gyurov. Polling stations opened at 07:00 and were scheduled to close at 20:00, with the final results expected within three days.
Key points
- The second round took place on 1 November 2026.
- The candidates were incumbent president Iliana Yotova and former interim prime minister Andrey Gyurov.
- Polling stations opened at 07:00 and were scheduled to close at 20:00.
- More than 6.5 million people were eligible to vote.
- In the first round on 25 October, Yotova received 34.75% and Gyurov 31.95%, with turnout of just over 22%.
- More than 9,000 polling stations operated domestically, while 613 opened abroad in 60 countries.
- The Central Election Commission was expected to announce the final results within three days.
Why it matters
The election will determine Bulgaria's president and vice president and shape the country's approach to military assistance for Ukraine, sanctions against Russia and relations with Moscow. The narrow first-round result and record-low turnout also raised concerns about political engagement and the election's legitimacy.
What happened
Bulgarians voted on 1 November in a presidential runoff between acting president Iliana Yotova and former interim prime minister Andrey Gyurov. More than 6.5 million people were eligible to vote, with over 9,000 polling stations operating domestically and 613 abroad in 60 countries. Polling stations opened at 07:00 and were expected to close at 20:00; in some locations, work could continue until 21:00 if voters remained. The Central Election Commission was due to announce the final results for president and vice president within three days. The runoff followed a first round on 25 October, in which Yotova won 34.75% of the vote and Gyurov 31.95%, while turnout was just over 22%.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage focused on how the outcome could affect Bulgaria's military assistance to Ukraine, sanctions against Russia and the European Union's relations with Moscow. It also highlighted Gyurov's March security agreement with Ukraine and the contrasting positions of the two candidates.
Where reporting differs
The Ukrainian reports differ over the candidates' policy positions. НВ attributes opposition to military assistance for Ukraine and calls to restore EU relations with Russia to Gyurov, while Бабель attributes those positions to Yotova and describes Gyurov as a consistent supporter of Ukraine. The reports also differ in how much biographical detail they provide: НВ identifies Gyurov as a former deputy governor of the central bank, whereas Бабель refers to him as a pro-Ukrainian former prime minister without mentioning that earlier role.
Background
Gyurov previously served as a deputy governor of Bulgaria's central bank and, during a March visit to Kyiv, signed a security agreement with Ukraine alongside Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Yotova became acting president after Rumen Radev resigned in January. The first round produced a close contest without either candidate securing a decisive majority, while turnout of just over 22% was a record low for Bulgaria.