The key facts

  • Yotova received 56.6–58.2% against Gyurov's 38.6–40.6% according to parallel counts by five agencies
  • Von der Leyen named areas of cooperation: security, defence, competitiveness, energy independence
  • Yotova's campaign emphasized diplomatic settlement instead of new arms supplies to Ukraine

Victory in the second round

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Iliana Yotova on her victory in Bulgaria's presidential election. 'I congratulate Iliana Yotova on her victory in the presidential election,' she wrote on the X platform, adding that she looks forward to continuing joint work 'from security and defence to our competitiveness and energy independence,' and finishing with the phrase 'To a strong Bulgaria in a strong Europe.' This was reported by Anadolu.

Results and concession of defeat

Completed parallel counts by five major polling agencies give Yotova between 56.6% and 58.2% of the vote, and her rival Andrey Gyurov between 38.6% and 40.6%. At a press conference in Sofia, Gyurov conceded the outcome: 'We accept the results, however unexpected they may be,' noting that the campaign is ending but the responsibility remains.

Campaign context

Yotova, a longtime figure of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, improved on her first-round result from a week earlier, when she received 34.76% against Gyurov's 31.95%. Her campaign emphasized refusing additional arms supplies to Ukraine and called for peace through diplomatic settlement — unlike her rival, whom the publication characterizes as pro-Western. The election took place after the April parliamentary elections, in which 'Progressive Bulgaria,' led by former President Rumen Radev, won 131 of 240 seats in the National Assembly — an absolute majority.