SOFIA, Bulgaria — Bulgarians voted for a president on Sunday in an election shadowed by divisions over the war in Ukraine, DW reported. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, with results expected within 48 hours.
Incumbent Iliana Iotova, 62, leads polls with 41 to 47 per cent. She favours dialogue with Moscow and opposes military aid to Ukraine. Her main rival, former caretaker prime minister Andrey Gyurov, 50, backed by the pro-Western opposition, polls at 28 to 31 per cent, while Kostadin Kostadinov of the nationalist Vazrazhdane party is on 10 to 13 per cent.
Twenty-seven pairs of candidates are running. If no one wins outright, a run-off will be held on November 1.
The vote comes amid security incidents: four merchant ships were allegedly hit by drones off Bulgaria’s coast, and Starlink antennas were set on fire near Sofia, DW reported. Prime Minister Rumen Radev summoned the Russian ambassador.
Bulgaria is the poorest member state of the European Union.
Sources: DW
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