26.10.2026 04:00
Turnout in Bulgaria's presidential election remained at 22.5%, and no candidate pair exceeded 50%. According to Alpha Research's unofficial results, incumbent President Iliyana Yotova received 34.6% and former Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov 32.7% of the vote. The two candidates will face each other in the second round on November 1.
The presidential election held in Bulgaria has gone to a runoff because turnout remained below 50 percent and no candidate pair received more than 50 percent of the vote.
2-POINT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOTOVA AND GYUROV
According to the unofficial results of the polling company Alpha Research, shared by Bulgarian National Television (BNT), incumbent President Iliyana Yotova and vice presidential candidate Kiril Valchev received 34.6 percent, while former Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov and vice presidential candidate Georgi Kandev received 32.7 percent. Turnout was announced as 22.5 percent.
According to the unofficial results of the Myara company, Yotova received 35 percent of the votes and Gyurov 31.9 percent. Turnout was stated as 22.2 percent.
According to these results, Yotova and Gyurov will compete in the runoff to be held on November 1.
YOTOVA CONCERNED ABOUT LOW TURNOUT
Yotova, making her first statement to the press after election day ended, said, "It is an illusion to think that we can change anything in the country if we do not vote."
Thanking Bulgarian citizens who voted and the voters who supported her, Yotova expressed her concern about the low voter turnout.
Yotova stated that they would establish more determined communication with all Bulgarian citizens and continue their election campaign, and noted that she wanted Bulgaria to be governed by stable governance, not by alliances formed between political parties.
GYUROV INVITED HIS RIVAL TO AN OPEN DEBATE
Meanwhile, Gyurov invited Yotova to an open debate ahead of the runoff.
Gyurov, expressing that Bulgaria needs an active president who unites citizens rather than divides them, said, "I invite Yotova to have an open, honest and civilized discussion, and to set out our views on how we will use our powers and how we will act in situations where Bulgaria faces a difficult choice."