Back
Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
Iliyana Yotova is a political ally of former Bulgarian president Rumen Radev and advocates for a diplomatic settlement of the war in Ukraine instead of additional military support for Kyiv.
In Bulgaria, the second round of the presidential election has concluded. The acting head of state Iliyana Yotova won, obtaining 57,66% of the votes. Her opponent, former interim prime minister An dyay Gyurov, received 39,38%.
This was reported by European Pravda, citing the results of the vote count of 99,66%.
Yotova became the first woman elected president of Bulgaria. Her victory was already greeted by the president of the European Commission.
"From questions of security and defense to our competitiveness and energy independence — I look forward to continuing our joint work. For a strong Bulgaria in a strong Europe," she wrote on social network X.
What position does Yotova take on Ukraine?
Iliyana Yotova is a political ally of former Bulgarian president and current prime minister Rumen Radev. She was his vice president since 2017, and after Radev's resignation in January 2026, she took on the duties of head of state.
During the electoral campaign, Yotova spoke out against additional military aid to Ukraine and called for a diplomatic settlement of the war. She also supports improving relations with Russia.
Her opponent Andrey Gyurov held a different foreign policy course. He was backed by pro-Western reformist forces, and he himself advocated strengthening cooperation with NATO and supporting Ukraine. While serving as interim prime minister, Gyurov signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv.
What does Yotova's victory mean for Bulgaria?
Yotova's victory strengthens the position of Radev's political team. His party, "Progressive Bulgaria," won 131 seats in parliament and formed the majority in the parliamentary elections in April, with 240 seats.
Thus, the presidency will also remain under the control of Radev's political camp. Observers cited by the Associated Press warn that concentration of power could weaken the system of checks and balances in the country.
At the same time, the president of Bulgaria has mostly representative powers, but can veto legislative decisions, signs international treaties, and commands the country's armed forces.
We reported: Valeriy Zaluzhny will participate in the Ukraine presidential elections, – media. According to Ukrainska Pravda, during a meeting with the president, Valeriy Zaluzhny confirmed his readiness to participate in the presidential elections.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "У Болгарії перемогла кандидатка, яка виступає проти додаткової військової допомоги Україні: хто очолить країну". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: StopKor.
