Bulgaria has made history with the election of Iliana Iotova as its first female president, following her victory in Sunday’s presidential run-off, official results showed on Monday.
Iotova secured 57.6 per cent of the votes, defeating her challenger, former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, who received 39.5 per cent.
Her victory strengthens the political position of Prime Minister Rumen Radev, a former president who backed her candidacy for the largely ceremonial role.
Iotova, 62, previously served as vice-president alongside Radev before assuming the presidency in January 2026, following his resignation to pursue parliamentary politics.
Radev subsequently founded the Progressive Bulgaria coalition, which won an outright majority in April’s parliamentary election, paving the way for his appointment as prime minister in May.
The presidential contest also highlighted divisions over Bulgaria’s position on the Russia-Ukraine war. Iotova has advocated diplomatic negotiations to end the conflict and opposed military assistance to Ukraine, while Gyurov received backing from pro-Western parties and supported closer security cooperation with Kyiv.
The election was also held against the backdrop of growing security concerns following drone attacks on merchant vessels in Bulgaria’s Black Sea economic zone, which have left at least 24 seafarers dead.
Both candidates condemned the attacks, while Radev said their outcome benefited Russia.
