Bulgaria presidential vote: Iliana Yotova faces Andrej Gjurov
Voters head to the polls on Sunday in a contest shaped by the war in Ukraine, Black Sea security and rising energy prices.
Bulgarians will vote on Sunday in a presidential contest dominated by security concerns tied to Russia’s war in Ukraine, mounting worries about Black Sea attacks on commercial shipping and a struggling household economy.
Two familiar names head the ballot
Incumbent Iliana Yotova, a 62-year-old journalist and former member of the European Parliament, goes into the vote as the favourite. Her challenger is economist Andrej Gjurov, a former deputy governor of the central bank and acting prime minister who led the country in the first months of 2026.
Throughout the campaign both candidates addressed voters’ anxieties over the expansion of hostilities in the Black Sea region, including deadly drone strikes on commercial vessels, which have raised questions about maritime security on Bulgaria’s doorstep.
Economic issues also featured prominently: steep rises in energy prices and accelerating inflation have strained many households, with people in rural areas particularly affected as they try to make ends meet.
The election pits an established political figure with a high public profile against a candidate with central banking and short-term government experience, making turnout and voter priorities decisive in a race framed by security and cost-of-living concerns.
Photo: press material from the event
