Sofia:Bulgaria's acting President Iliana Yotova has secured a decisive victory in the presidential runoff, as indicated by exit polls. Yotova faced off against her pro-Western opponent, Andrey Gyurov, in the election held on Sunday.
According to Anadolu Agency – English, completed parallel counts by five major polling agencies showed Yotova's vote share ranging between 56.6% and 58.2%, while Gyurov garnered between 38.6% and 40.6%. Despite the surprising results, Gyurov accepted them, emphasizing the ongoing responsibility beyond the campaign.
Yotova, affiliated with the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), surpassed her performance in the first round, where she received 34.76% of the votes compared to Gyurov's 31.95%. Her campaign focused on abstaining from additional arms support for Ukraine, advocating for peace through diplomatic means, a stance distinct from her opponent's.
The presidential election follows the parliamentary elections in April, where Progressive Bulgaria, under former President Rumen Radev, secured 131 out of 240 seats, achieving a majority in the National Assembly. Yotova, who was Radev's vice president, took over as acting president after his resignation in January, with Progressive Bulgaria supporting her bid for a full five-year term.
Gyurov, previously a deputy governor at the Bulgarian National Bank, cautioned during his campaign that Yotova's presidency would consolidate power without a counterbalance since Progressive Bulgaria already governs. He criticized the government's reticence on EU and security policies, pointing out the diminished support for Ukraine and slow coordination with NATO and EU allies, which he argued weakened Bulgaria's position within the alliance.