Yotova leads by 2.8 points in exit polls, set to become Bulgaria's first female president

Exit polls show Iliana Yotova leading the presidential runoff by 2.8 percentage points. If the results hold, she will become Bulgaria’s first elected female president. The vote concludes a highly polarized contest that drew record low participation from eligible voters.

Bulgarians cast ballots on Sunday in a race defined by economic hardship and security threats in the Black Sea. Drone attacks on shipping have killed or left several sailors missing in recent months. These events created a tense backdrop for the final voting day.

The path to the runoff began on Oct. 25. Yotova defeated Andrey Gyurov in the first round by that 2.8 point margin. Election officials reported that only 23% of eligible voters cast a ballot that day. Polls reopened at 7 a.m. Sunday for the decisive second round. Officials will announce the final results on Monday.

Yotova runs as an independent but holds the endorsement of Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s Moscow-friendly Progressive Bulgaria party. She assumed the acting presidency earlier this year after Radev resigned to lead his party in the general election. Her campaign promises to keep Bulgaria on its European path while improving relations with Russia and lifting sanctions.

During a televised debate this week, Yotova argued that peace in Ukraine could come only through negotiations. She proposed a security meeting among the six Black Sea countries to sign a moratorium on hostilities. Both she and Radev have called for a diplomatic solution to the war. They have remained vague about possible Russian involvement in recent drone attacks.

Gyurov, the opposition candidate, is an economist and former central bank deputy governor. He served as caretaker prime minister in early 2026. His pro-Western, reformist backers view the election as a check on the ruling majority. Gyurov signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv during his premiership. He criticized the government for failing to name Russia as the aggressor.

Gyurov stated he wants Bulgaria to be a reliable NATO ally. He called for a firm position and strong diplomacy to stand up for national interests. He warned that without a clear stance, a nation becomes a target rather than a partner. He said, “When you have no position and are not at the table, you are in fact on the menu.”