Yotova Wins Five More Years as Bulgaria’s President, New Mandate Begins in January

Iliana Yotova has been elected Bulgaria’s seventh president and the first woman to win the office, securing 57.58% of the vote in the November 1 runoff, according to Central Election Commission data from 99.95% of processed polling station protocols.

Yotova and her running mate Kiril Valchev received 1,093,564 votes, while the ticket of Andrey Gyurov and Georgi Kandev secured 749,543 votes, or 39.46%. Another 56,070 voters, representing 2.95%, selected the option “I do not support any of the candidates.”

Yotova won in 28 electoral districts, while Gyurov came first in three: Sofia's 23rd and 24th districts and Kardzhali.

More than 91% of the protocols from polling stations abroad had been counted. Gyurov received 55.4% of the votes cast by Bulgarians living overseas, compared with 42.2% for Yotova. Overall voter turnout was approximately 27%.

In her first comments after the victory, Yotova said voters had endorsed dialogue and cooperation over political division. "Citizens have placed their trust in a policy of dialogue, rather than one of division," she said.

She added that the vote reflected public support for decision-making based on cooperation and coordination between institutions, rather than confrontation. "Through their vote, the people have embraced a policy where sound decisions are reached via dialogue, cooperation, and coordination with other institutions - as opposed to an approach centered on sabotaging everyone else," President Yotova declared.

She thanked everyone who had voted, regardless of their choice, as well as the initiative committee that nominated her and Valchev and the political forces that supported their candidacy, including the ruling Progressive Bulgaria party.

Yotova also addressed Progressive Bulgaria leader Rumen Radev, whose backing contributed to her victory in the presidential race for the third time. "Dear Mr. Radev, we could not have succeeded without you!" she said.

Yotova's new five-year term begins on January 22, 2027. She will be Bulgaria's seventh president and the first woman elected to the position.

Valchev said that strengthening ties with Bulgarian communities abroad would be among his priorities as vice president, adding that particular attention would be given to young people.

Prime Minister Radev described the election result as confirmation that the government was pursuing the right course and said it would encourage the administration to press ahead with more decisive reforms.

"Bulgarians chose the future over the past - peace and stability. They chose normality. We are concluding a difficult election year, but the direction is clear. There is no turning back to the 'makeshift coalitions' or the shadows of the past from the transition period," Radev said.

Asked about a statement by Asen Vassilev, leader of We Continue the Change (PP), concerning possible protests against next year's budget, Radev said people were free to demonstrate but that protests should not automatically lead to new elections.

"Everyone is free to protest about something. People protest for the sake of the sun or the plants; Asen Vassilev may choose to protest the budget to the bitter end, but that does not mean we should hold new elections every four or five months simply because someone is protesting," he said.

Asked whether the governing parties would seek to influence her decisions as president, Yotova responded: "With a political career spanning nearly 30 years, no one has yet come along who could tell me what to do."