Bulgaria has elected Iliana Iotova as its first elected female head of state, after she won a presidential runoff held on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
With 99.95% of precinct protocols processed, figures from the Central Election Commission reported on Monday showed the Iotova-Valchev ticket on 57.58% of the vote, about 1.1 million ballots, against Andrey Gyurov and Georgi Kandev on 39.47%, about 749,500 votes. About 2.95% of voters chose the “I support no one” option. Gyurov conceded defeat.
Iotova is due to take office on January 22 for a five-year term. Bulgaria’s presidency is largely ceremonial, with parliament holding most decision-making power.
Background
Iotova, 62, formerly vice president, became acting president in January 2026 after Rumen Radev resigned to enter the parliamentary race. She was backed by Prime Minister Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria party, which won 131 of 240 parliamentary seats in April. In the first round on October 25, Iotova led with 34.6% against Gyurov’s 32%.
Gyurov, a banker and former caretaker prime minister, was backed by the pro-Western opposition. As reported, Iotova favours dialogue with Moscow and opposes military aid to Ukraine, while Gyurov represented the pro-Western camp; these positions are attributed to the candidates’ platforms as reported.
Turnout was low, projected at around 27% in the runoff after a record-low first round. The vote came against a backdrop of drone attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea off Bulgaria in October.
Note on spelling: some outlets transliterate her surname as Yotova; this article uses Iotova following Reuters.
Frequently asked questions
When does she take office? Iotova is due to take office on January 22 for a five-year term.
What powers does Bulgaria’s president have? The presidency is largely ceremonial, with parliament holding most decision-making power.
Who was her opponent? Her runoff opponent was Andrey Gyurov, a banker and former caretaker prime minister backed by the pro-Western opposition, who conceded defeat.
