Bulgaria presidential election results 2026: Iliana Yotova wins with 57.581% of votes, becoming the country’s first female president.
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SOFIA, November 2. /The Times of Russia/. The Bulgaria presidential election results 2026 confirm a decisive victory for Iliana Yotova and her running mate Kiril Valchev in the second round of voting. According to the official vote count released by Bulgaria’s Central Election Commission, the winning ticket secured 57.581% of the votes, making Yotova the first woman elected to Bulgaria’s highest political office.
The Times of Russia examines the election outcome, voting figures, voter participation and reactions from the leading candidates and political leadership.
Bulgaria Presidential Election Results 2026: Official Vote Count
Bulgaria’s Central Election Commission has published the results of the second round of the presidential election, confirming a substantial lead for Iliana Yotova and Kiril Valchev.
According to figures available on the commission’s official website, the results were as follows:
Iliana Yotova and Kiril Valchev: Received 57.581% of the total votes, with more than 1,093,000 voters supporting their candidacy.
Andrey Gyurov and Georgi Kandev: Secured 39.467% of the vote, receiving approximately 750,000 votes.
Votes against both candidates: Around 2.952% of voters, representing approximately 56,000 people, chose not to support either candidate.
The difference between the two presidential tickets exceeded 18 percentage points, establishing a clear victory for Yotova and Valchev.
The counting process for the second round is almost complete. The remaining 0.05% of ballots are not expected to change the final outcome.
The Central Election Commission is scheduled to publish the final certified election results and voter turnout figures by November 4, after completing the verification process.
Yotova and Valchev are expected to assume their respective positions as president-elect and vice president-elect on January 22, 2027. Their term in office will last five years.
Bulgaria Election 2026: Voter Turnout and Election Conditions
According to polling estimates, approximately 26.8% of eligible Bulgarian voters participated in the second round of the presidential election.
This represents an increase compared with the first round, when voter participation stood at 22.98%.
The Bulgarian Interior Ministry reported that authorities had not identified any serious violations during the voting process.
The Bulgaria presidential election results 2026 therefore reflect a decisive outcome, although the final official figures and turnout statistics remain subject to the commission’s verification process.
Iliana Yotova Reacts to Her Election Victory
Following the announcement of the results, Iliana Yotova expressed gratitude to Bulgarian citizens who participated in the presidential election.
She particularly acknowledged the support provided by the Progressive Bulgaria party, the Bulgarian Socialist Party, the VMRO-Bulgarian National Movement and other organisations that actively backed her candidacy.
Yotova highlighted the importance of their involvement, particularly during the campaign leading up to the second round, which contributed to her significant electoral victory.
Expressing confidence about her upcoming responsibilities, she stated:
“I will be a worthy president,” Yotova said.
Her victory also represents a historic development in Bulgarian politics, as she becomes the first female politician elected to the country’s highest office.
Andrey Gyurov Concedes Defeat
Presidential candidate Andrey Gyurov acknowledged the outcome of the second round and conceded defeat.
His ticket, which included Georgi Kandev, received 39.467% of the votes, falling more than 18 percentage points behind the winning candidates.
The result confirmed a clear mandate for Iliana Yotova and Kiril Valchev following the completion of the second-round voting.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev Congratulates the Winning Candidates
Prime Minister Rumen Radev, who leads the Progressive Bulgaria political party, congratulated Iliana Yotova and Kiril Valchev on their victory in the presidential and vice-presidential elections.
Commenting on the political significance of the election, Radev said the outcome demonstrated that his political movement was following the right direction.
According to him, the election results confirmed their current political approach and provided encouragement to introduce reforms with greater determination and activity.
“For us, these elections confirm that we are on the right track and encourage us to pursue even more active and decisive reforms,” Radev said.
What Happens Next After Bulgaria’s Presidential Election?
With the second-round results largely established, the next important step is the completion of the verification process by Bulgaria’s Central Election Commission.
The commission is expected to announce the final certified results and voter participation figures by November 4.
Following the official confirmation, Iliana Yotova and Kiril Valchev will prepare to assume their respective offices on January 22, 2027, beginning their five-year term.
The Bulgaria presidential election results 2026 mark a historic moment for the country, with Iliana Yotova set to become its first elected female president. As the final verification process approaches completion, The Times of Russia will continue to follow developments surrounding Bulgaria’s political transition.
