Iliana Iotova Wins Bulgarian Presidency as First Woman in the Role With 57.6 Percent

Iliana Iotova was elected Bulgaria’s first female president on November 1, 2026, winning the runoff with 57.6 percent of the vote against former caretaker prime minister Andrey Gyurov, who received 39.5 percent. Official results released on November 2 confirmed the margin. Turnout was low, continuing a pattern from the first round.

Iotova, 61, had served as acting president since January after Rumen Radev resigned the office to contest and win a parliamentary election. She is a former member of the European Parliament and has called, like Radev, for a diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine. Radev endorsed her candidacy. Both candidates condemned recent attacks on the country; Radev said the strikes’ outcome benefited the Russian Federation.

Gyurov, 50, had the backing of pro-Western reformist parties and has long expressed support for Ukraine. The presidential role in Bulgaria is largely ceremonial, yet the election still signals the balance of political forces. Iotova’s victory consolidates Radev’s influence after his move from the presidency to the premiership earlier in the year.

In the first round a week earlier, Iotova led with 34.76 percent and Gyurov had 31.95 percent. Final turnout figures for the runoff were not immediately released by the Central Election Commission, but intermediate data showed participation remaining well below historical averages. About 3 percent of voters cast ballots against both candidates.

Bulgaria joined the euro area recently and continues to navigate its position between European institutions and domestic political currents that have at times favored closer ties with Russia. The presidential result does not alter the government’s parliamentary majority, but it removes one potential point of institutional friction between the head of state and the prime minister. Iotova and Radev share the preference for diplomatic rather than military escalation regarding Ukraine.

The campaign focused on foreign policy orientation, energy costs, and institutional continuity. Gyurov positioned himself as the clearer pro-Western option. Iotova emphasized experience and the need to avoid further polarization. With the votes counted, the first woman to hold the presidency takes office with a clear numerical majority even if overall participation stayed limited.

The outcome leaves Gyurov and the parties that supported him in opposition. Whether the low turnout reflects broader disillusionment or simply the limited powers of the office will be tested in the next parliamentary cycle. For the immediate term, the alignment between the prime minister and the new president reduces the chance of public institutional clashes on foreign policy.