Bulgarians vote on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in a presidential election split over the war in Ukraine and ties with Russia. Acting President Iliana Iotova and Andrey Gyurov are the leading figures among 27 candidates. Polling stations open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. local time (0500-1800 GMT), according to DW.
Iotova, a former vice president, became acting president in January after Rumen Radev resigned to enter the parliamentary race, according to Al Jazeera. DW reports that she favors dialogue with Moscow and opposes military aid to Kyiv. Surveys show her with 41-47% of the vote.
Gyurov, a former caretaker prime minister backed by the pro-Western opposition, is polling at 28-31%, according to DW. Alpha Research polls gave Iotova 41% and Gyurov 28%.
The campaign has unfolded alongside a maritime security incident. Four merchant ships were allegedly hit by drones off Bulgaria’s coast this month. Al Jazeera reports that the attacks likely killed about two dozen international seafarers.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the strikes’ outcome "benefits the Russian Federation," according to Al Jazeera. The government has stopped short of directly blaming Russia, and no second source names who carried out the attacks.
For the result to stand, turnout must exceed 50% of the 6.6 million registered voters. Turnout is expected to be below 40%, which would make a November 1 run-off likely, according to Al Jazeera.
Bulgaria is the EU’s poorest member state, and rising energy prices and inflation are a main issue for voters, especially in rural areas. Widespread pro-Russian sentiment, rooted in historical and cultural ties, has divided society since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, although the parties broadly agree on a pro-Western path. The presidency is largely ceremonial, but it can appoint interim governments in political crises, command the armed forces and veto legislation.
Exit polls are due when polling stations close at 8 p.m. Official results are expected up to 48 hours after voting ends. If no candidate wins an absolute majority, a run-off is scheduled for November 1, with Iotova and Gyurov widely considered the likely contenders.
The sources do not include a response from Russia. Reports of Starlink antennas set on fire near Sofia and of Radev summoning the Russian ambassador come from DW alone and have not been confirmed by other sources. No official results or post-vote polls are available yet.
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This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.