Iliana Iotova leads Bulgaria vote, one step from first elected woman president
By Priya NairLeadership & Growth Editor, Peepals Shakti
File photo: euranet_plus (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Bulgaria's acting president Iliana Iotova won the October 25, 2026 first round with 34.6% and faces a November 1 runoff that could make her its first elected woman president.
What Happened
Bulgaria's acting president, Iliana Iotova, finished first in the country's presidential election on Sunday, October 25, 2026, but fell short of the 50% needed to win outright. With about 95% of votes counted, Iotova had 34.6% and former caretaker prime minister Andrey Gyurov had 32%, sending the two into a runoff on Sunday, November 1. If Iotova wins, she will become the first woman elected president of Bulgaria. Turnout was very low, at about 22% of eligible voters.
Key Facts
- First round: Sunday, October 25, 2026; 27 candidates.
- Iliana Iotova (spelt Yotova in some reports): 34.6%, with about 95% of votes counted.
- Andrey Gyurov, former caretaker prime minister: 32%.
- Third place: Konstadin Konstadinov of the nationalist Vazrazhdane party, with about 12.6%.
- Turnout: about 22%, described in reports as a record low.
- Runoff: Sunday, November 1, 2026; Gyurov has invited Iotova to a debate before then.
- Iotova took over as president in January 2026 after Rumen Radev stepped down, and is backed by Radev's ruling party; Gyurov is supported by the pro-Western opposition.
Why It Matters
The presidency in Bulgaria is largely ceremonial; day-to-day power lies with the prime minister and parliament. But the president has a real role when parliament cannot form a government, because the head of state appoints a caretaker cabinet. Iotova used that power this year: in February 2026 she nominated Andrey Gyurov, then deputy governor of the Bulgarian National Bank, as caretaker prime minister. The man she appointed is now her main rival.
Iotova already holds the office. As vice-president, she took over in January 2026 after Radev resigned, following a Constitutional Court ruling, and became the first woman in Bulgaria's history to hold the office. Under the constitution, she is serving out the rest of Radev's term, which ends on January 22, 2027. What she has not yet done is win the post in her own right at the ballot box. A win on November 1 would make her the first woman elected to the presidency. Before the vote, an Alpha Research poll had put her at 41.1% among people who intended to vote, well above her first-round result.
The race is very close. A gap of under three percentage points between the two leaders, and a turnout of only about one in five voters, mean the runoff will depend on who can bring more people to the polls, including supporters of candidates who were knocked out. According to reports, the campaign was shaped by the war in Ukraine, the economy and drone attacks on merchant ships off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, which made security a central issue for voters.
| Candidate | First-round share | Backing |
|---|---|---|
| Iliana Iotova | 34.6% | Radev's ruling party |
| Andrey Gyurov | 32% | Pro-Western opposition |
| Konstadin Konstadinov | about 12.6% | Vazrazhdane |
Impact
Short-term: The next week will be a contest for the votes of eliminated candidates and of the many Bulgarians who stayed home. A debate between Iotova and Gyurov, if it happens, could shape the result.
Long-term: The winner will take office when the current term ends on January 22, 2027, and will play a key role if Bulgaria again faces trouble forming a government. A win for Iotova would also give Bulgaria its first elected woman president.
Who is affected: Bulgarian voters; the two candidates and the parties backing them; and Bulgaria's partners in the European Union and NATO, which follow the country's position on security in the Black Sea region.
Key Takeaway
Iliana Iotova leads Bulgaria's presidential race and could become its first elected woman president in the November 1 runoff, but her lead over Andrey Gyurov is narrow.
Questions and Answers
Who won the first round of Bulgaria's presidential election?
Acting president Iliana Iotova came first with 34.6% on October 25, 2026, ahead of Andrey Gyurov with 32%, with about 95% of votes counted. Neither reached 50%, so they meet in a runoff.
When is the Bulgaria presidential runoff?
The runoff between Iliana Iotova and Andrey Gyurov is on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
Would Iliana Iotova be Bulgaria's first woman president?
She is already the first woman to serve as head of state, having taken over in January 2026 after Rumen Radev stepped down. A win on November 1 would make her the first woman elected to the post.
What powers does Bulgaria's president have?
The role is largely ceremonial, but the president appoints a caretaker government when parliament cannot form one. Iotova did this in February 2026, when she named Andrey Gyurov caretaker prime minister.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Priya Nair, Leadership & Growth EditorCovers Leadership & Growth and more for Peepals Shakti. All stories by Priya Nair
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