Bulgaria votes in presidential runoff with record low turnout

Bulgarian citizens cast ballots on Sunday in a presidential second round that takes place amid rising regional tensions and domestic economic strain.

Acting President Iliana Yotova faces former interim Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov in a contest that has drawn historically low participation. Election officials reported that only 23% of eligible voters participated in the first round on October 25, a record low for the country. Yotova led Gyurov by 2.8 percentage points in that initial vote.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. local time for a polarized race where candidates promote distinct political visions. Initial exit poll data was scheduled for release after voting ended at 8 p.m., with official results set for announcement on Monday.

The election occurs while drone attacks on Black Sea shipping have intensified, leaving several sailors dead or missing. Voters are also grappling with growing economic hardship at home.

Yotova, an independent candidate, assumed the acting presidency earlier this year after former head of state Rumen Radev resigned to lead his party in the general election. Radev’s Moscow-friendly Progressive Bulgaria party has endorsed Yotova for this runoff. She plans to continue Radev’s policy of maintaining Bulgaria’s European trajectory while seeking better relations with Russia and the lifting of sanctions. Both Yotova and Radev have called for a diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine but have remained vague regarding Russian involvement in the recent Black Sea incidents.

During a television debate this week, Yotova argued that peace requires negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. She proposed a security meeting among the six Black Sea nations to sign a moratorium on hostilities. Observers note that a win for Yotova would keep the presidency aligned with the ruling majority, potentially limiting checks and balances on government policy.

Gyurov, an economist and former deputy central bank governor, is backed by the pro-Western reformist opposition. He served as caretaker prime minister in early 2026 and signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv during that tenure. Gyurov advocates for Bulgaria to be a reliable NATO ally with strong diplomacy. He criticized the current government for hesitating to label Russia as the aggressor in the Ukraine war. “When you have no position and are not at the table, you are in fact on the menu,” Gyurov said.