Bulgarians cast ballots in low-turnout presidential runoff

Bulgarian voters went to the polls on Sunday to select a new head of state in a contest defined by economic strain and regional security risks. Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. and closed at 8 p.m., with the first exit poll results expected shortly after closing. Officials will announce the final results on Monday.

The first round of voting on Oct. 25 saw only 23% of eligible citizens cast a ballot, a figure election officials described as a record low for the process. This low engagement set the stage for the current runoff, where two candidates with distinct policy views seek to win a decisive majority.

Acting President Iliana Yotova faces Andrey Gyurov, a former interim Prime Minister. Yotova won the first round by 2.8 percentage points. She serves as an independent candidate after Vice President Rumen Radev resigned earlier this year to lead his party in the general election. If she wins, Yotova would become Bulgaria’s first elected female president.

Yotova is endorsed by the Moscow-friendly Progressive Bulgaria party, which currently holds the premiership. She supports maintaining Bulgaria’s path toward Europe while improving relations with Russia and lifting sanctions. During a recent television debate, she stated that peace could come only through negotiations and proposed a security meeting among the six Black Sea nations to sign a moratorium on hostilities.

Gyurov, an economist and former deputy governor of the central bank, is backed by the pro-Western reformist opposition. He led the country as caretaker prime minister in early 2026. His platform emphasizes strong diplomacy and a firm stance within NATO. He has signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv and supports identifying Russia as the aggressor in the ongoing conflict.

The election takes place amid increased drone attacks on Black Sea shipping that have left sailors dead or missing. Both candidates have called for a diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine but have been evasive about specific Russian involvement in the recent drone strikes.

Political observers note that a victory for Yotova would keep the presidency aligned with the ruling majority. They warn that this concentration of power could limit the ability of institutions to maintain effective checks and balances on policy decisions.