Iliana Yotova, who advocates dialogue with Russia, won the presidential election in Bulgaria

The second round of the presidential election in Bulgaria has ended, with the current head of state Iliana Yotova winning. The politician, who advocates for the resumption of dialogue with Russia and does not support military aid to Ukraine, received more than 57% of the vote.

The second round of the presidential election was held on November 1, 2026. According to the Central Election Commission of Bulgaria, after processing 99.68% of the protocols, Iliana Yotova received 57.66% of the vote.

Her opponent, former Prime Minister Andrei Gyurov, who holds pro-Western views and supports Ukraine, received 39.38%. Another 2.96% of citizens did not support any candidate.

The results of the vote were reported by the Bulgarian public broadcaster BNT.

Andrei Gyurov has already admitted defeat and stated that he respects the choice of Bulgarian citizens. At the same time, he emphasized that his political team will continue its activities.

After the announcement of the preliminary results, Iliana Yotova thanked the voters for their support. She expressed special gratitude to Prime Minister Rumen Radev, who supported her during the election campaign.

What is Yotova’s position on Ukraine

Iliiana Yotova previously held the position of Vice President of Bulgaria, and in January 2026, after the resignation of Rumen Radev, she became the interim head of state.

The politician advocates a diplomatic settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian war, calls for an immediate ceasefire and the resumption of dialogue with Moscow. At the same time, she does not support providing military assistance to Ukraine.

Her victory may affect Bulgaria’s political position on further support for Ukraine. However, specific decisions will depend not only on the president, but also on the country’s government and parliament.

Bulgaria is a member of the European Union and NATO, so the position of its leadership on sanctions against Russia, military assistance, and European security remains important for Ukraine.