In Sofia on Sunday, November 1, 2026, Bulgarians went to the polls in a second‑round presidential election that marked the first contested presidential race in the country since the end of communism, according to Xinhua. Nearly 6.6 million eligible voters cast ballots between incumbent President Iliana Iotova and her vice‑presidential running mate Kiril Valchev, and challenger Andrey Gurov with running mate Georgi Kandev.
Xinhua reports that the runoff was a high‑stakes test for the nation’s political stability, with the parties backing both presidential tickets vying for influence in the newly elected parliamentary majority. The source noted that the turnout will soon be finalized after a vote‑tallying phase that has already begun at polling stations across Sofia and surrounding regions.
Although no other outlets have yet confirmed the turnout figures, Xinhua’s account is the sole published source to date. Lawyers and observers monitor the vote counts as the result of this first run‑off is expected to set the tone for Bulgarian presidential politics longer term.
