Bulgaria election heads to run-off amid low turnout
Bulgaria's presidential election is heading to a second round after no candidate reached the required majority, with only 22.2 percent of voters casting ballots.
At a glance
- Bulgaria's presidential election will go to a second round on November 1 between Iliana Yotova and Andrey Gyurov.
- No candidate passed the 50 percent threshold needed to win in the first round; voter turnout was 22.2 percent.
- Issues during the campaign included rising energy costs, inflation, and Black Sea drone strikes.
- Yotova is backed by Prime Minister Rumen Radev and the Socialist Party; Gyurov is supported by the pro-Western opposition.
Bulgarians will choose between President Iliana Yotova and former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov next week, after Sunday's presidential election failed to produce a winner.
Exit polls showed Yotova receiving between 35 and 36.5 percent of votes, while Gyurov scored between 31 and 33.5 percent. A second round is scheduled for November 1, as neither candidate cleared the more than 50 percent threshold needed for first-round victory.
Voter turnout was just 22.2 percent as of 8pm local time, according to the Measure polling agency. The low turnout was expected given that both the turnout and vote share thresholds were not met.
Minister of Interior Ivan Demerdzhiev said the elections "took place peacefully, without the usual practices of vote buying and vote manipulation", according to Bulgarian National Television.
Rising energy costs, inflation, and attacks in the Black Sea dominated campaign issues. A series of drone strikes on ships off Bulgaria's coast during the campaign period drew condemnation from both candidates.
Leftist Yotova is backed by Prime Minister Rumen Radev, whose Progressive Bulgaria party performed strongly in April's parliamentary elections. Yotova became president in January after serving as vice president. She ran as an independent with backing from Progressive Bulgaria and the Socialist Party. She called for improved relations with Russia and said she wanted to address poverty, inequalities, and regional disputes.
Gyurov has the support of the country's pro-Western opposition and signed a security cooperation agreement with Ukraine as prime minister. He said he wanted "a Bulgaria that looks forward, a country that is European, free, and proud" and invited Yotova to debate before the second round.
Although the role of president is largely ceremonial, the president leads the armed forces, can veto legislation, and sign treaties.
Questions and answers
- Who are the two candidates in Bulgaria's presidential run-off?
- The two candidates are incumbent President Iliana Yotova, who received 35-36.5 percent of votes in exit polls, and former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, who received 31-33.5 percent.
- When is the second round of voting in Bulgaria?
- The second round is scheduled for November 1, where voters will choose between Yotova and Gyurov.
- What issues dominated the Bulgarian presidential campaign?
- Rising energy costs, inflation, attacks in the Black Sea, and Russia's war in Ukraine were the major issues. A series of drone strikes on ships off Bulgaria's coast also dominated headlines during the campaign period.
