Bulgarians vote in presidential runoff amid security tensions in the Black Sea
Bulgarians voted Sunday in a presidential runoff between two candidates with opposing views on the Ukraine war and relations with Russia as tensions mount in the Black Sea. Incumbent President Iliana Iotova, who favours dialogue with Moscow, faces off against Andrey Gyurov, a former caretaker prime minister backed by the pro-Western opposition.
Bulgarians cast their ballots on Sunday in a tight presidential runoff between acting President Iliana Yotova and pro-Western former Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov. Tensions over Russia and the security of the Black Sea were at the forefront of the campaign. Yotova had led the first round of voting on October 25, securing 34.8% of the vote, while Gyurov received 32%. The voting process saw a record-low turnout of 22.98%, according to Bulgaria’s Central Election Commission.
Yotova, supported by Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s governing party, pushed for improved relations with Russia and a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. In contrast, Gyurov, backed by reformist opposition parties, advocated for closer ties with Kyiv and Western allies. The presidential election came in the wake of drone attacks on merchant ships near Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, sparking concerns regarding maritime security.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. local time and closed at 8 p.m., with exit polls anticipated afterward and official results announced on Monday.
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