The elections on Sunday in Bulgaria were accompanied by the lowest voter turnout in the history of the country, and thus, voters must go to the polls for the second round of the presidential elections on November 1.
Turnout and Initial Results
Polling stations were open from 7 AM to 8 PM local time (05:00-18:00 GMT), and official results will be announced within 48 hours. However, the turnout was less than 40 percent, which is significantly lower than the required 50 percent.
Voters in this election are choosing between two candidates with very different views on the Ukraine war and relations with Moscow. This election takes place amid drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea, highlighting the importance of the Ukraine war for this formerly Soviet-ruled country.
Candidates and Their Positions
The current president, Iliyana Yotova, who assumed office this year, is the frontrunner in the elections, with polls indicating she has between 41 to 47 percent of the votes. Yotova emphasizes dialogue with Moscow as a way to achieve peace in Ukraine and opposes sending military aid to Kyiv.
Her main challenger, Andrey Gyurov, the former interim prime minister, has between 28 to 31 percent of the votes in the polls. Gyurov, who is supported by the pro-Western opposition, is a staunch critic of Radev's foreign policy and strongly supports Bulgaria's Euro-Atlantic relations.
Former Prime Minister Rumen Radev is also a supporter of dialogue with Moscow, and Yotova's victory could strengthen his position. In this election, 27 pairs of candidates for the presidency and vice-presidency are competing, nearly half of whom openly support the Kremlin.
After voting in Sofia, Yotova called for peace and unity in the country, while Gyurov sought to improve the economic security of families in Blagoevgrad. Turnout was estimated at 15.1 percent by 3 PM.
To secure a definitive victory, a candidate must obtain more than half of the valid votes and more than half of the eligible voters must participate in the election. Otherwise, the top two candidates will go to the second round on November 1.
