In brief
In Sofia on 1 November 2026, Iliana Iotova and Kiril Valchev announced their victory in the Bulgarian presidential runoff after parallel counting confirmed a lead of over 15% against Andrey Gurov and Georgi Kandev. They hailed a historic first‑woman presidency and thanked voters both at home and abroad, while turnout figures from North Macedonia and Romania exceeded first‑round levels. Prime Minister Rumen Radev praised the result as a choice for peace and stability.
In Sofia on 1 November 2026, Iliana Iotova and her running mate Kiril Valchev announced that they had won the Bulgarian presidential runoff after the final count of ballots was completed.
Iliana Iotova thanked all voters and said, "Their vote means a lot, because we will listen to what they have told us. We ran a positive campaign. I cannot explain who misled Mr Andrey Gurov into waging this attack campaign against our presidential ticket."
Kiril Valchev added, "Twice as many voters supported Bulgaria having its first woman president." He thanked Bulgarian citizens abroad for their support and affirmed that they would be his priority as vice‑president.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev, who attended the briefing, said, "Today, the Bulgarian people have chosen the future over the past, peace, stability, normality, and a sustainable and clear outlook."
Parallel counting carried out by five independent agencies confirmed the victory. Trend recorded 58.1% for the Iotova–Valchev ticket versus 38.9% for Gurov–Kandev, while Market Links reported a 56.5%–40.6% split. Alpha Research and Myara also showed leads of 57.4%–39.6% and 58.2%–38.6% respectively, and Gallup International Balkan found 56.1% for Iotova and 39.1% for Gurov.
In Skopje, the Bulgarian embassy opened seven polling stations that attracted 491 voters, a 160‑voter increase over the first round and the highest turnout in that country for a Bulgarian election since 2022. Votes were cast at the embassy, consulate, and in Ohrid, Strumica, Kavadarci, Kocani, and Prilep.
In Bucharest, 327 Bulgarian citizens voted for the runoff, almost double the 167 who cast ballots in the October 25 first round. The youngest voter was 18 and the oldest 79. The polling station operated calmly without queuing or incidents.
First‑round exit polls had already indicated a lead for Iotova and Valchev. Combined share of the ticket ranged from 56.1% to 58.2% nationwide, comfortably ahead of the Gurov–Kandev coalition, according to the latest data.
The win is seen as a significant milestone, with Iotova becoming the first woman to hold Bulgaria’s presidency. Analysts note that the broader turnout, both domestically and among the diaspora, underscores a renewed engagement in the civic process.
Both candidates stressed that future priorities would include listening to voters and maintaining national stability, while the international community waits to see how the new administration will handle regional dynamics.
