Bulgaria elects first female head of state — as acting president Iliana Yotova wins race
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Published Nov. 2, 2026, 1:21 p.m. ET
Acting President Iliana Yotova won the runoff election to become Bulgaria’s first elected female head of state and said she will work for national consensus by bridging political rifts.
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she → publish → rifts
With all the votes counted on Monday, the Central Election Commission said Yotova secured 57.6%, while the candidate of the liberal, pro-Western opposition, Andrey Gyurov, received 39.5%.
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candidate → count → %
Gyurov conceded defeat, saying that “this is how the Bulgarian citizens have voted,” and added that the results had to be accepted as they stood.
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they → concede → defeat
“I voted for national consensus through dialogue, for institutions that work for citizens, for a strong state with its own foreign policy in a strong Europe,” Yotova said after the vote.
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Yotova and looked forward to continuing cooperation with her on security and defense, competitiveness, and energy independence.
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“For a strong Bulgaria in a strong Europe,” von der Leyen wrote in a post on X.
The vote was the first major test for Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s Moscow-friendly Progressive Bulgaria party, which endorsed Yotova.
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which → write → Yotova
In April’s parliamentary vote, the party won 131 of the 240 seats in Parliament, securing an outright majority.
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party → win → majority
Observers note that a victory for Yotova will keep the presidency in the hands of the governing majority.
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victory → note → majority
Such a concentration of power could prevent the effective maintenance of checks and balances on policy decisions by institutions, they say.
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they → prevent → institutions
Both Yotova and Radev have called for a diplomatic solution to end the war in Ukraine but remain evasive about possible Russian involvement in drone attacks in the Black Sea region.
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Yotova → call → region
Yotova has opposed further Bulgarian military assistance to Ukraine, repeatedly arguing that the conflict has no military solution and calling for a “coalition for peace” focused on diplomacy.
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conflict → oppose → diplomacy
Yotova, 62, took over the presidency in January, when Radev stepped down to run for parliament, and was seeking her own elected mandate.
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She’s expected to continue Radev’s policy of keeping Bulgaria on its European path while also supporting better relations with Russia and the lifting of sanctions.
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Yotova’s professional career began as a TV journalist in the 1990s.
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career → begin → 1990s
Later, she entered politics and was elected to the national Parliament, and later the European Parliament, on the ticket of the Socialist party.
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she → enter → party
In 2016 and 2021 she was elected as Radev’s vice president.
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Yotova shared her victory with Kiril Valchev, whom she had picked as vice president.
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she → share → president
The Balkan country joined NATO in 2004 and the European Union in 2007.
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country → join → 2007
While there is a broad consensus among the parties in parliament on the country’s pro-Western path, widespread pro-Russia sentiment based on traditional historical and cultural ties with Russia has divided society, particularly since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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sentiment → be → Ukraine
Although the head of state has no executive powers and all major policies must be approved by parliament, direct election gives the president greater political authority.
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election → have → authority
The president leads the armed forces and can veto legislation, signs international treaties and appoints ambassadors.
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president → lead → ambassadors
Presidents in Bulgaria are elected for a five-year term and can serve no more than two terms.
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Yotova is expected to be inaugurated on Jan. 22.
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The Aporia
