Iliana Iotova has won Bulgaria’s presidential runoff election, defeating former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov to become the country’s first elected female president. Official results showed Iotova received 57.6% of the vote, while Gyurov secured 39.5%.
Key developments:
- Iotova, who had served as acting president after Rumen Radev resigned to enter parliamentary politics, will begin a full five-year term as head of state.
- Andrey Gyurov conceded defeat after campaigning on a pro-European and reform-focused platform, including support for Ukraine.
- Turnout remained low, with around 28.6% of eligible voters participating, following historically low participation in the first round.
The result comes amid debate over Bulgaria’s foreign policy direction, including relations with Russia, Ukraine, the European Union and NATO. While the presidency is largely ceremonial, the role carries influence over national security, foreign policy representation and legislative review.