Yotova Leads Gyurov in Bulgarian Presidential Runoff Exit Polls

Iliana Yotova holds a lead in the Bulgarian presidential runoff according to exit polls released Sunday evening.

The acting president is on track to become the country's first elected female head of state. She faces Andrey Gyurov, a former interim prime minister and economist. The two candidates finished within 2.8 percentage points of each other in the first round held on Oct. 25.

Turnout for the initial vote was 23%, a record low among eligible voters. Polls opened at 7 a.m. Sunday and closed at 8 p.m. Local time. Election officials will announce the final tally on Monday.

The campaign took place against a backdrop of economic strain and military threats in the Black Sea. Drone attacks on shipping have resulted in dead and missing sailors. These events have intensified debate over Bulgaria's foreign policy stance.

Yotova ran as an independent candidate. She assumed the acting presidency earlier this year after Rumen Radev resigned to lead his Progressive Bulgaria party. That party endorsed Yotova for the office. Radev's group is described as Moscow-friendly. Yotova has advocated for better relations with Russia and the lifting of sanctions.

During a television debate, Yotova stated that peace could come only through negotiations. She proposed a security meeting involving all six Black Sea countries to sign a moratorium on hostilities. Both she and Radev have called for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine war. They have remained evasive regarding Russian involvement in recent drone strikes.

Gyurov is backed by the pro-Western reformist opposition. He signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv during his time as caretaker prime minister in early 2026. He criticized the government for not naming Russia as the aggressor. He argued that Bulgaria must participate in European Union decisions from the start. He warned that a lack of position leaves a country on the menu rather than at the table.