Bulgarians began voting on Sunday in the second round of the presidential election, which is marked by intense competition between the two main candidates. This round of elections follows a close contest between Iliana Yotova and Andrey Gyurov in the first round.
Competition Between Two Different Views
The second round of the election, taking place on November 1, showcases two opposing views on the future of Bulgaria. Iliana Yotova, the current president and a supporter of close ties with Moscow, has positioned herself as a "peace president" by opposing military aid to Ukraine. In contrast, Andrey Gyurov, the former prime minister and a pro-Western opposition representative, emphasizes the necessity of supporting Ukraine.
The Issue of the Ukraine War in the Elections
The war in Ukraine has become one of the key issues of the election. Security concerns in the Black Sea due to increased drone attacks on commercial ships have driven voters to the polls. In the first round of the election, which had the lowest turnout in history, Yotova won with 34.76% of the votes, while Gyurov came in second with 31.95%.
Although the presidency of Bulgaria primarily has ceremonial duties, the president can appoint interim governments during political crises and act as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Additionally, they have the right to veto laws.
In a televised debate before the second round, Gyurov accused Yotova of evading direct criticism of Russia for the Black Sea attacks, stating, "Russia must cease its aggression for further actions to take place." Yotova responded by arguing that "peace can only be achieved through negotiations" and stated that continued aid to Ukraine would lead to further devastation and the death of many on both sides.
If Yotova is re-elected, she is expected to pursue a similar approach to that of Prime Minister Rumen Radev while emphasizing the preservation of Bulgaria's European path and closer ties with Russia.
Gyurov, who previously served as Deputy Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank and as interim prime minister, has declared strong support for Ukraine since taking office in 2026 and signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv during his premiership.
After the first round of the election, Gyurov stated that Bulgaria faces a choice between "two personalities, two directions, and two methods of exercising presidential powers."
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