Bulgarian President wins runoff election: exit polls
Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova has won a runoff election, positioning her to become the country's first elected female president. The election occurred against a backdrop of regional instability, including drone attacks in the Black Sea and ongoing political fragmentation in Bulgaria.
Why it matters
The election outcome signals a potential shift in Bulgaria's stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, given the President's preference for dialogue with Moscow and opposition to military aid for Ukraine.
Sofia, Bulgaria Bulgaria’s President Iliana Iotova, who favours dialogue with Moscow and opposes military aid to Ukraine, won a presidential runoff vote on Sunday (November 1, 2026), exit polls showed. The vote took place amid security concerns in the EU and NATO member states following a series of drone attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea. Bulgaria votes for President in wake of deadly Black Sea drone strikes Bulgaria votes for President in wake of deadly Black Sea drone strikes Polls place acting President Iliana Iotova, 61, and ex-caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, 50, as leaders in a race of 27 candidates Bulgaria votes for President in wake of deadly Black Sea drone strikes storyline 1 The race for the largely ceremonial post pitted Ms. Iotova, an ally of Prime Minister Rumen Radev, against Andrey Gyurov, a banker and former caretaker Prime Minister backed by the pro-Western opposition.
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