Bulgarians choose between Yotova and Gyurov in low-turnout runoff

Only 23% of eligible voters participated in the first round of Bulgaria's presidential election on October 25, marking the lowest turnout in the country's history. That figure, released by election officials, framed the national debate for the runoff vote held on Sunday.

Iliana Yotova, the acting president and former vice president, leads Andrey Gyurov by 2.8 percentage points from the initial vote. Yotova would become Bulgaria's first elected female president if she secures the majority in this second round. She is running as an independent candidate backed by the ruling Progressive Bulgaria party, which is led by Prime Minister Rumen Radev.

The campaign has centered on Bulgaria's position between its European integration goals and its relations with Russia. Yotova has maintained Radev's policy of staying on the European path while supporting improved relations with Moscow and the lifting of sanctions. During a television debate earlier this week, she advocated for a diplomatic settlement to the war in Ukraine. She stated that peace could come only through negotiations and proposed a security meeting with all six Black Sea countries to sign a moratorium on hostilities.

Gyurov, a former deputy governor of the central bank and interim prime minister, is backed by the pro-Western reformist opposition. He has expressed firm support for Ukraine and signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv during his time in office. He wants Bulgaria to act as a reliable NATO ally that uses strong diplomacy to protect its interests. He criticized the current government for being reluctant to name Russia as the aggressor in the conflict.

Gyurov argued that Bulgaria must identify threats and participate fully in European Union decision-making from the beginning. He warned that lack of position leads to vulnerability, stating that when a country is not at the table, it is in fact on the menu.

The election takes place amid growing economic hardship at home and increased drone attacks on shipping in the Black Sea. Those attacks have left several sailors dead or missing. Observers note that a victory for Yotova would keep the presidency aligned with the ruling majority. They warn that this concentration of power could limit the checks and balances on policy decisions by other institutions.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. on Sunday and closed at 8 p.m. Initial exit poll results were expected shortly after polls closed, with official results scheduled for announcement on Monday.