Bulgarians voted on Sunday to elect a president after a close first round that did not yield a clear winner. Incumbent president Iliana Iotova, 61, led over former caretaker prime minister Andrey Gyurov, 50, but neither reached the 50% needed. The first round had a low turnout with 27 candidates. Exit polls will be available after voting ends at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT), with results expected on Monday.
The election occurs amid recent drone attacks on merchant ships near Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, which have raised international alarm and fears stemming from the ongoing Ukraine war. There are concerns for about two dozen missing seafarers following these strikes, which have led the government to seek help for maritime security. Both main candidates condemned the attacks, with Prime Minister Rumen Radev noting their benefit to Russia and advocating for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
If Iotova wins, she would become Bulgaria’s first elected female president. Gyurov is backed by pro-Western parties and has shown support for Ukraine, having signed a security agreement with Kyiv during his tenure. Several right-leaning politicians support Gyurov.
With information from Reuters
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