Bulgaria’s acting president Iliana Iotova won a presidential run-off vote on Sunday, according to exit polls.
Iotova assumed the presidency earlier this year from Radev. Radev stepped down to contest parliamentary elections, allowing Iotova to take over the post. Iotova was previously elected as vice-president alongside Radev in 2016 and 2021.
During the first round of voting last week, Iotova secured 35 per cent of the vote while Gyurov received 32 per cent. The first round of the election saw a turnout of 23 per cent.
Iotova stated she wants "Bulgaria to be strong in a strong Europe" and remain "sovereign in its decisions."
While supporting Bulgaria’s membership in Nato and the EU, Iotova argued that "peace can come only through negotiations" in Ukraine.
Gyurov said after voting in Blagoevgrad that he voted for a "secure, stable and European Bulgaria."
"Russia must stop its aggression so that the next steps can be taken," said Gyurov. Radev, a centre-left figure, said the attacks appeared to serve Russian interests.
Krassimira Kostova told Agence France-Presse, "I don’t like either of the two candidates but I don’t like the return of communism we’ve been seeing in recent years either. That’s why I came to vote."
Petar Doitchinov said he voted for "the lesser evil."
