Elections & Democracy
Bulgaria votes in presidential runoff shaped by Ukraine
Bulgarians began voting on Sunday, November 1, in a presidential runoff between President Iliana Iotova and Andrey Gyurov, a contest shaped by opposing views on the war in Ukraine and relations with Russia.
Iotova, who favours dialogue with Moscow and opposes military aid to Ukraine, faces Gyurov, a banker and former caretaker prime minister backed by the pro-Western opposition. Polls opened at 7 am and are due to close at 8 pm, with voting able to continue until 9 pm at polling stations where people are still waiting.
Iotova won 35 percent in the first round last week, while Gyurov took 32 percent. Turnout in the first round was a record-low 23 percent.
The campaign has been marked by concern over the Black Sea after several vessels were struck off Bulgaria in October, leaving 21 people missing. Prime Minister Rumen Radev has said the attacks appeared to serve Russian interests and summoned the Russian ambassador, while his government says there is so far no evidence directly linking them to Moscow.
During a TV debate, Gyurov criticised Iotova for not directly blaming Russia for the Black Sea attacks. Iotova said peace could come only through negotiations and argued that more money and weapons for Ukraine would lead to more destruction and deaths.
Radev, a longtime Iotova ally, has urged voters to back her. After the first round, he described the election as a choice between “peace and war”.
Iotova, 62, is a former journalist and member of the European Parliament. She was elected vice-president alongside Radev in 2016 and 2021 and took over as president this year when he stepped down to run in parliamentary elections. If she wins the runoff, she would become Bulgaria's first elected woman president.
Gyurov, 50, is a former deputy governor of the Bulgarian National Bank and strongly supports Bulgaria's Euro-Atlantic ties.
The Central Election Commission rejected opposition allegations that Radev used state resources and his office to campaign for Iotova. Gyurov's campaign team is appealing that decision in court.
Update
The vote is a presidential runoff between Iliana Iotova and Andrey Gyurov.
Iotova won 35 percent in the first round and Gyurov won 32 percent.
First-round turnout was a record-low 23 percent.
Polls opened at 7 am and are due to close at 8 pm, with possible extension to 9 pm for voters already waiting.
Several vessels were struck off Bulgaria in October, leaving 21 people missing, with no direct evidence so far linking the attacks to Moscow according to the government.
The Central Election Commission rejected opposition allegations that Rumen Radev used state resources to campaign for Iotova, and Gyurov's team is appealing in court.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 November 2026 at 05:44:34 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Responsibility for the Black Sea vessel strikes has not been established in the supplied information.
The court outcome of Gyurov's campaign appeal is unresolved.
Runoff turnout and the election result were not yet known.
Source
AFP news report published on .