02.11.2026 07:40
In the presidential election held in Bulgaria, Iliyana Yotova, according to unofficial results, received 57.4% of the votes, leaving her rival Andrey Gyurov behind. Yotova, the country's first woman president elected to office, declared her victory and thanked all citizens. Prime Minister Rumen Radev also congratulated Yotova, who advocates developing relations with Russia and opposes military aid to Ukraine.
According to unofficial results broadcast on Bulgarian National Television (BNT), Iliyana Yotova finished the presidential election with a clear lead. Yotova, who previously served as vice president and took over the presidency in January 2026, became the first woman to come to this office through election.
Yotova's election success, with her stance advocating improved relations with Russia and opposing military aid to Ukraine, was recorded as a historic development in Bulgarian politics.
YOTOVA WON 57.4 PERCENT OF THE VOTE
According to unofficial results from polling company Alpha Research, Iliyana Yotova received 57.4 percent of the vote, while her rival Andrey Gyurov remained at 39.6 percent.
Yotova addressed her voters together with vice-presidential candidate Kiril Valchev and Prime Minister Rumen Radev at the National Palace of Culture (NDK) in the capital Sofia.
Yotova and Valchev, who finished the election ahead, declared their election victory in their speeches.
"I THANK EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED US"
Yotova thanked all citizens whether they supported them or not and said they would conduct comprehensive analyses to understand the concerns of different segments of society.
In her speech, Yotova said, "On behalf of myself and the vice-presidential candidate, now elected Vice President Mr. Valchev, I sincerely thank everyone who supported us."
Yotova also announced that her election rival Andrey Gyurov called her by phone to congratulate her.
"WE WILL WORK TO BE A GUARANTEE OF DEMOCRACY"
Kiril Valchev, who announced that he was elected vice president, also thanked the citizens who supported them.
Valchev noted that voters turned out in high numbers in the elections so that Bulgaria would have a female president, and said he would work to be a guarantee of democracy in the country.
Valchev emphasized that representing citizens would be one of their most fundamental tasks.
PRIME MINISTER RADEV CONGRATULATES YOTOVA
Prime Minister Rumen Radev, in his speech after the election results, stated that they had achieved an impressive result by demonstrating extraordinary mobilization in a short time.
Radev congratulated Yotova and Valchev on their election victory and made assessments regarding the new period.
Radev said, "Ms. Yotova, we have known each other for 10 years. In difficult times for Bulgaria, I believe that in this important task you have had to undertake, you will be a president worthy of the country."
WHO IS ILIYANA YOTOVA?
Iliyana Yotova was born in 1964 in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, and graduated from the Bulgarian Philology Department of the Faculty of Slavic Philology at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski.
Yotova, who received specialized training at the French National School of Administration (ENA) and the Strasbourg Center for European Studies, began her professional career in journalism.
Between 1990 and 1997, she worked at Bulgarian National Television (BNT) as a reporter, editor, presenter and director of news programs.
Between 1997 and 2007, she managed the press center of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP).
Yotova served as a member of parliament in the 2005-2007 period, was elected as a member of the European Parliament (EP) in 2007, and continued this duty until 2017.
Yotova, who began serving as vice president in 2017, took over the presidency on January 23, 2026, after President Rumen Radev resigned on January 19, 2026.
WHO IS KIRIL VALCHEV?
Kiril Valchev was born in 1973 in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, and graduated from the Faculty of Law at Sofia University.
In 1995, Valchev received training in radio management at Deutsche Welle in Cologne, Germany, and in 2000 he became a fellow in the German Marshall Fund's European Leaders Program in the USA.
In 2003, he did an internship at the BBC's Bulgarian service in London.
Valchev, who has authored and presented radio programs since 1994, carried out work in the field of law as well as journalism.
Between 2000 and 2004, he worked as a lecturer in civil law at the Faculty of Law at Sofia University.
Since 2005, Valchev has served as managing partner of a law firm specializing in media and intellectual property, and has continued his legal practice in the fields of media, intellectual property, civil law and commercial law.
In 2019-2020, he was part of the expert group of the Culture and Media Committee of the Bulgarian Parliament on amendments to the Radio and Television Act.
Valchev, who has received various awards in the media field, worked at the Foreign News Service of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA) between 1993 and 1995.
Valchev was elected Director General of BTA by the Bulgarian Parliament on January 27, 2021.