Iliana Iotova Wins Bulgarian Presidential Runoff with 57.6 Percent

Final results

Iliana Iotova and her running mate Kiril Valchev won Bulgaria's presidential runoff on November 1, 2026, with 57.6 percent of the vote, according to the Central Election Commission after processing 100 percent of tally sheets. They received approximately 1,093,852 votes. Andrey Gyurov and Georgi Kandev received 39.5 percent, or about 750,251 votes. About 2.95 percent of voters chose the "none of the above" option. Gyurov conceded.

Iotova, 62, becomes Bulgaria's first woman elected directly as president and the seventh head of state since the 1989 changes. She had served as vice president and became acting president in January 2026 after Rumen Radev resigned to run for parliament, which he won. The new term begins on January 22, 2027. Turnout in the runoff was approximately 27 percent, following a first-round turnout of about 23 percent.

Political background

Iotova was backed by Progressive Bulgaria, the center-left party of Prime Minister Rumen Radev, which holds a parliamentary majority. Radev and Iotova have both called for a diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine and have opposed military aid to Kyiv. Gyurov represented a pro-Western liberal-conservative opposition camp. Iotova won in 28 of the country's electoral districts. Gyurov led in Sofia's 23rd and 24th districts, in Kardzhali, and among voters abroad.

Implications

The result keeps the presidency aligned with Radev's government. Analysts note Iotova's positions on Ukraine and sanctions mirror those of Radev, whom some observers describe as Kremlin-friendly. The low turnout leaves open questions about the breadth of the mandate. Iotova thanked supporters and Radev after the vote. The outcome consolidates the current political alignment in Sofia heading into 2027.