Bulgaria: Acting President Iliana Iotova Takes Clear Lead in Presidential Election

Sofia: Bulgaria’s acting President Iliana Iotova has taken a decisive lead over her pro-Western rival, Andrey Gyurov, in the runoff round of the country’s presidential election. Exit polls and parallel vote counts projected between 56.6 and 58.2 percent support for Iotova, compared with 38.6 to 40.6 percent for Gyurov.

Iotova received 57.6 percent of the vote in Sunday’s runoff, while former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov secured 39.5 percent. Gyurov said at a press conference in Sofia that he accepted the results, adding that although the campaign was ending, responsibility did not end.

Iotova, who is affiliated with Bulgaria’s Socialist Party, received 34.6 percent of the vote in the first round, while Gyurov finished second with 32 percent. Because no candidate won a majority, the race proceeded to a runoff.

Iotova’s campaign focused on halting further military aid to Ukraine and pursuing a diplomatic resolution with Russia. In contrast, Gyurov advocated continued support for Ukraine, stronger ties with the European Union and NATO, and reforms to Bulgaria’s security policy.

Iotova previously served as vice president under former President Rumen Radev and assumed the acting presidency after Radev resigned in January. With her victory, she is set to become Bulgaria’s first elected female head of state.

The campaign was dominated by the war in Ukraine, European security, and Bulgaria’s relations with its Western allies. Gyurov had argued that the government’s policies had weakened Bulgaria on NATO and the European Union’s eastern flank.