In brief
Bulgaria’s presidential runoff concluded with Iliana Iotova and Kiril Valchev winning the race, as confirmed by parallel counting and exit polls. The win was hailed as a historic moment for the nation, with supporters and officials praising a positive campaign and calling for unity. Voter turnout abroad rose significantly, and key political figures offered their congratulations and outline future priorities.
In Sofia, Bulgaria, the president‑elect Iliana Iotova and her running mate, Vice‑President Kiril Valchev, declared victory in the runoff that concluded on Sunday, November 1, 2026, after official parallel counting confirmed their win over Andrey Gurov and Georgi Kandev.
Parallel counting by five independent agencies—Myara, Gallup International, Trend, Alpha Research, and Market Links—showed Iotova‑Valchev ahead, with figures ranging from 56.1% to 58.2%. However, Market Links reported a lead for Gurov‑Kandev at 56.5% versus 40.6% for Iotova‑Valchev, indicating that the final outcome remains contested until all ballots count.
After the polls closed, Iotova thanked every voter, including those who did not support her, saying,
“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.”
Valchev highlighted twice as many voters supporting Bulgaria’s first woman president, added a thank you to the Bulgarian diaspora, and pledged that international voters would be a priority in his vice‑presidential role.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev, who attended the briefing, described the result as a choice for peace, stability, and a clear outlook, emphasizing that the new leader would bring a “sustainable and clear outlook.”
Turnout abroad rose markedly: 491 Bulgarian voters cast ballots in North Macedonia and 327 in Romania, both exceeding first‑round levels and setting new records for Bulgarian diaspora participation.
Socialist Party co‑chair Krum Zarkov hailed the win as a decisive, deserved victory, noting that the campaign mobilized many parties and organizations and would spur unity among state institutions.
