Eliana Yotova, the current President of Bulgaria, achieved a decisive victory in the second round of the presidential election held on Sunday. According to initial vote counting results, Yotova received about 58% of the votes.
Opponent and Challenges
Yotova's opponent, Andrey Gyurov, the former interim Prime Minister, secured around 38% of the votes with the support of pro-Western opposition parties. If these results are officially confirmed, Yotova will become the first elected female president of Bulgaria.
Presidential Role and Election Message
Although the presidency in Bulgaria mainly has ceremonial duties, the president acts as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and can appoint interim governments during political crises and veto laws. The election of the president through direct voting gives this position greater political legitimacy.
Yotova, 62, is a supporter of the current Prime Minister, Rumen Radev, and has been serving as interim president since January. After the announcement of the preliminary results, she expressed her joy, stating that her election message focused on "income, peace, and the challenges ahead."
Gyurov, accepting defeat, said that "this is what the citizens of Bulgaria have voted for" and added that the results should be accepted as they are. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, also congratulated Yotova.
The war in Ukraine was one of the key issues of the election, and with increasing security concerns in the Black Sea, which includes Bulgaria, voters went to the polls. Yotova presented herself as the "peace president" who supports dialogue with Moscow.
In a televised debate before the second round, Gyurov accused Yotova of avoiding direct criticism of Russia regarding its attacks in the Black Sea. In response, Yotova argued that "peace can only be achieved through negotiations" and considered continued support for Ukraine as "leading to further devastation and the death of many on both sides."
If her victory is confirmed, Yotova is expected to pursue a similar approach to Prime Minister Radev, keeping Bulgaria on a European path while establishing closer ties with Russia and supporting the lifting of sanctions.
