Bulgarians vote for president in shadow of Russia’s war in Ukraine
Summary
Bulgarians are voting in a presidential election shaped by Russia’s war in Ukraine and drone attacks on merchant ships near the country’s Black Sea coast. Polls show incumbent Iliana Iotova leading Andrey Gyurov, but analysts expect neither to win outright, making a November 1 runoff likely.Key Facts
- Twenty-seven candidates are competing in the election.
- Alpha Research polls put Iotova at 41 percent and Gyurov at 28 percent.
- The president’s role is largely ceremonial, but the president leads the armed forces, can veto laws, signs treaties and appoints ambassadors.
- Drone attacks on merchant ships off Bulgaria’s coast likely killed about two dozen international seafarers, according to the article.
- Bulgaria has sought allied help to strengthen maritime security, while its government has not explicitly blamed Russia for the attacks.
- Gyurov supports Ukraine and signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv while serving as caretaker prime minister.
- Iotova and her political ally Rumen Radev call for a diplomatic end to the war; Radev supports Iotova.
- A runoff is expected on November 1 because analysts expect no candidate to win a majority in the first round and turnout is forecast below 40 percent.
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