Bulgaria Votes in Presidential Run-off Between Iotova and Gyurov

Bulgarians cast ballots on Sunday, November 1, 2026, in a presidential run-off election between Iliana Iotova and Andrey Gyurov. Iotova, an independent candidate endorsed by Prime Minister Rumen Radev and the Progressive Bulgaria party, entered the final round as the frontrunner after securing 34.76% of the vote in the October 25 first round, compared to Gyurov's 31.95%. If she wins, Iotova will become the first elected female president in the country's history.

The election takes place against a backdrop of regional instability, including arson attacks on Starlink antennas and drone strikes targeting shipping in the Black Sea. The two candidates present diverging views on national security and foreign policy. Iotova argues that "peace could come only through negotiations" and seeks improved relations with Moscow.

Gyurov, supported by the pro-Western opposition, advocates for a strict adherence to NATO policies. He has criticized the current government for failing to explicitly name Russia as the aggressor in the conflict in Ukraine, suggesting that "when you have no position and are not at the table, you are in fact on the menu." Official results are expected on Monday.