Bulgarians are voting Sunday in a presidential runoff between acting President Iliana Iotova and former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, a contest that has turned on the war in Ukraine and Bulgaria’s ties with Russia.
Iotova, 61, led the first round with 34.76 percent to Gyurov’s 31.95 percent but fell short of a majority. Turnout in that round was a record low of about 23 percent. Exit polls are due after voting ends at 8pm (18:00 GMT), with a result expected Monday, according to Al Jazeera.
Iotova, backed by Prime Minister Rumen Radev, has called herself a “president of peace” who favours dialogue with Moscow and opposes military aid to Ukraine. Gyurov, a former deputy central bank governor backed by pro-Western parties and ex-Prime Minister Boiko Borisov, signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv during his premiership.
The vote follows a month of drone attacks on merchant ships off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast. About two dozen seafarers are feared dead, and a Greek container ship sank on Wednesday after being hit by sea drones. “Russia must stop its aggression so that the next steps can be taken,” Gyurov said in a debate. Iotova replied that “peace can come only through negotiations.”
The presidency is largely ceremonial, but the president appoints caretaker governments during political crises and can veto legislation. An Iotova win would make her Bulgaria’s first elected female president.
Sources: Al Jazeera, DW
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