Bulgaria's acting President Yotova leads in exit polls of runoff election
According to the exit polls, the candidate from the ruling centre-left party is set to win 52 per cent of the vote in the run-off election in Bulgaria. Her pro-Western challenger, Andrey Gyurov, trails by a considerable margin. Voter turnout stood at just 29 per cent.
By euronews AP
Published on 1 November 2026 - 19:59 GMT+1
According to the exit polls, the run-off election for the Bulgarian presidency appears to result in a majority for the incumbent, Ilijana Yotova. Initial projections suggest that Yotova, the candidate of the ruling centre-left party Progressive Bulgaria (PB), could secure 52% of the vote. If confirmed by official results, she would become Bulgaria’s first elected female head of state.
Former interim Prime Minister and challenger Andrey Gyurov, backed by reformist pro-Western opposition parties, is said to be trailing with around 45%.
The war in Ukraine, not far from Bulgaria, has played a significant role in the election in this country on NATO’s eastern flank. Throughout the election campaign, Yotova repeatedly advocated for a peaceful solution for Ukraine through negotiations with Russia. She said she wanted to be a Bulgarian "President of Peace".
During the campaign, Gyurov signalled a closer alignment with Western partners and stronger support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s war of aggression.
The vote was the first major test for Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s Moscow-friendly Progressive Bulgaria party, which has endorsed Yotova. The 62 years old politician took over the presidency in January, when Radev stepped down to run for parliament. Observers expect her to stick to Radev’s policy of keeping Bulgaria on its European path, while at the same time supporting better relations with Russia and the lifting of sanctions.
The election in this south-eastern EU country was overshadowed by the conflict in Ukraine. In the Bulgarian economic zone in the Black Sea – and also in that of neighbouring Romania – drone attacks on merchant ships have become increasingly frequent in recent weeks.
Bulgaria’s presidency is primarily ceremonial. The head of state has no executive powers, and all major policies must be approved by parliament, direct election gives the president greater political authority. The president leads the armed forces and can veto legislation, signs international treaties and appoints ambassadors.
Presidents in Bulgaria are elected directly for a five-year term and can serve no more than two terms.
