Bulgaria heads to the polls for first round of presidential election

The campaign has focused on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and an increase in drone attacks on commercial vessels off Bulgaria’s coast in the Black Sea, as well as rising energy prices and inflation.

Bulgarians are heading to the polls to elect their president on Sunday, in a campaign that has mostly revolved around growing concerns over the economy and drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea.

The vote will be the first major test of Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria party since it came out on top in parliamentary elections last April.

Despite a record 27 candidates, the race is expected to be decided in a runoff between incumbent President Iliana Yotova, who is backed by Radev’s party and favours dialogue with Moscow while opposing military aid to Ukraine, and former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, who is backed by pro-Western opposition parties.

Yotova is expected to win between 41% and 47% of the vote, while Gyurov is polling between 28% and 31%.

The leader of the pro-Russian far-right Vazrazhdane party, Kostadin Kostadinov, is in third place on 10-13%.

The campaign has focused heavily on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the widening hostilities in the Black Sea, where recent drone attacks on commercial vessels off Bulgaria’s coast have heightened security concerns in the European Union and NATO member country.

The strikes have raised concerns over Russia’s intentions to escalate the conflict, while also compelling the government to ask Bulgaria’s partners for assistance to strengthen its maritime security.

Candidates have also looked to respond to public anxiety over rising energy prices and inflation, as many families, particularly in rural areas, struggle to make ends meet.

Two main candidates among record total of 27

Main frontrunner Yotova took over this year as president of Bulgaria when Rumen Radev stepped down to run in parliamentary elections, eventually becoming prime minister.

If successful she would become the first woman ever elected president in Bulgaria’s history. A win for Yotova would be a boost for Radev, who has also called for dialogue with Moscow.

A former journalist and member of the European Parliament, Yotova was elected vice-president alongside Radev in 2016 and 2021.

Her main challenger is economist Andrey Gyurov, a former deputy governor of the central bank and caretaker prime minister in the first few months of 2026. He is supported by the pro-Western reformist opposition.

Gyurov has often expressed firm support for Ukraine, and signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv during his premiership.

Polling stations will close at 8 pm local time, after which initial exit polls will be announced while preliminary results are expected on Monday.

Turnout must be above 50%, and the winner needs a majority of votes. Projections have Sunday’s turnout at less than 40%, indicating a likely runoff on 1 November.

Source: www.euronews.com