Bulgarian incumbent President Iliana Iotova (C) speaks to reporters following the release of initial election results in Sofia, Bulgaria, 25 October 2026. Nearly 6.6 million eligible voters are called to the polls to elect Bulgaria?s next president in the first round of voting. EPA/BORISLAV TROSHEV
With 99.95% of precinct protocols processed, the Iotova-Valchev ticket had won 57.58% of the vote, or about 1.1 million ballots, while opponents Andrey Gyurov and Georgi Kandev received 39.47%, or about 749,500 votes.
About 2.95% of voters chose the "I support no one" option.
The runoff followed a first round on October 25 that gave no candidate the majority needed for an outright victory. Iotova and Valchev led with 34.6% of the vote, ahead of Gyurov and Kandev on 32%, advancing to Sunday's second round.
Iotova, formerly vice president, became acting president in January after Radev resigned to enter the parliamentary race, which he won on a ticket many political analysts consider Kremlin-friendly.
Radev supports Iotova and they have both called for a diplomatic end to the Ukraine war.
(Reporting by Alex Lefkowitz; Writing by Antonis Pothitos; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
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