Bulgaria prepares to vote for president amid Black Sea security concerns
Iliana Iotova and Andrey Gyurov lead the polls before the 25 October vote, with attacks on merchant ships adding urgency to their differences over Ukraine.
Bulgarians are due to vote for president on 25 October as drone attacks on merchant ships off the country’s Black Sea coast heighten concern about maritime security and Russia’s war in Ukraine, Reuters reported. Acting President Iliana Iotova and former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov lead polling in a field of 27 candidates.
The attacks likely killed about two dozen international seafarers, according to Reuters. Bulgaria has sought allied help to strengthen maritime security but has stopped short of directly blaming Russia for the strikes. Both leading presidential candidates have condemned them, Reuters reported.
How Iotova and Gyurov differ over Ukraine
The candidates differ over the broader war. Gyurov is backed by pro-Western reformist parties and signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv while serving as caretaker prime minister, Reuters reported. At a campaign rally on Thursday, Iotova said: ‘My opponents argue that there must be a war of attrition. The truth is, we are all the ones who are most exhausted,’ according to Reuters.
Iotova became head of state on 23 January 2026 after Rumen Radev’s presidential powers ended following his resignation, according to the Bulgarian presidency’s biography. If elected, she would become Bulgaria’s first elected female president, Reuters reported.
Presidential powers and a possible runoff
The presidency is largely ceremonial, but direct election gives its holder political authority. The president leads the armed forces and can veto legislation, sign international treaties and appoint ambassadors, while major policies require parliamentary approval, according to Al Jazeera’s AP and Reuters report. Those powers make the candidates’ positions on security consequential for voters.
Alpha Research polling reported by Reuters put Iotova on 41% and Gyurov on 28%. A candidate needs an outright majority to win in the first round, and analysts expect a runoff. Al Jazeera’s AP and Reuters report said turnout must exceed 50% of the 6.6 million registered voters, while turnout on 25 October was expected to be below 40%.
Polls are scheduled to open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. local time on 25 October. If needed, a second round is scheduled for 1 November, Reuters reported. Candidates are also addressing rising energy prices and inflation, which have strained household budgets, particularly in rural areas, according to Al Jazeera’s AP and Reuters report.
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Sources and context
- Bulgarians vote for president in shadow of Russia’s war in UkraineAl Jazeera (AP and Reuters)
- Bulgaria votes for president in wake of deadly Black Sea drone strikesThe Straits Times (Reuters)
- Iliana Iotova — President of the Republic of BulgariaPresident of the Republic of Bulgaria
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.