Bulgarians vote for president as Ukraine war reaches Black Sea coast
Bulgarians are voting for a largely ceremonial but politically influential president as Russia’s war in Ukraine reaches waters off the country’s Black Sea coast. Recent drone attacks on merchant ships likely killed about 24 international seafarers, prompting Sofia to seek allied help in strengthening maritime security. The government has not directly blamed Russia, though Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the strikes benefited the Russian Federation.
Acting President Iliana Iotova, 61, and former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, 50, lead a field of 27 candidates. Both condemned the attacks, but Gyurov, backed by pro-Western reformist parties, supports Ukraine and signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv. Iotova, supported by Radev, advocates a diplomatic end to the war and is associated with calls for Bulgaria to adopt a more neutral position and halt arms deliveries to Ukraine.
Alpha Research puts Iotova on 41 percent and Gyurov on 28 percent. No candidate is expected to win an outright majority, while turnout among 6.6 million registered voters is forecast below 40 percent—short of the 50 percent threshold—making a November 1 run-off likely. The campaign also reflects Bulgaria’s divide over its Western alignment and historic ties to Russia, alongside public anxiety over rising energy prices and inflation.
Continue in the app — vote & join in ➔