Bulgaria set to elect its first female president as Russia-friendly Iliana Yotova wins runoff

Bulgaria’s acting president, Iliana Yotova, secured victory in the country’s presidential runoff election on November 1. Preliminary results showed Yotova leading with 57.6% of the vote, while her main rival, former interim Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, garnered 39.3%. After counting 99.68% of ballots, Gyurov announced he would concede defeat.

Yotova has previously served as Bulgaria’s vice president under President Rumen Radev. If confirmed, Yotova will become the first female president in Bulgaria’s history. In the first round, neither candidate achieved an outright win, with Yotova receiving 34.76% and Gyurov 31.94%. Turnout was low in both rounds, amounting to 23% and 27%, respectively.

Bulgaria’s ruling Progressive Bulgaria party, led by Prime Minister Rumen Radev, supported Yotova’s candidacy. The AP noted that Yotova’s win will enable Radev’s majority to maintain control of the presidency. Yotova favors negotiations with Russia and a diplomatic resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, opposing the delivery of military aid to Kyiv and urging the lifting of sanctions on Russia.

She supports Bulgaria’s continued membership in the EU and NATO. At Meduza, we employ AI in our reporting, but every article is written by human journalists and subject to editorial review before publication.