The key facts
- Iliana Yotova won the second round of the election on November 1, receiving 57.58% against Andrey Gyurov's 39.47% (with 99.95% of ballots processed).
- Political scientist Alexander Kamkin does not expect Bulgaria to quickly pivot toward Russia: the country depends on EU subsidies, and its political class was shaped under the influence of European NGOs and foundations.
- In the expert's view, Sofia may adopt a dual position modeled on Hungary — softening its tone toward Moscow, but without open confrontation with Brussels.
Results of the second round
Iliana Yotova won the second round of the presidential election in Bulgaria, held on November 1. After 99.95% of the ballots were processed, she received 57.58% of the votes, while her rival Andrey Gyurov received 39.47%. This was reported by Life.ru.
Expert assessment: the course will remain the same
Alexander Kamkin, an associate professor at the Financial University under the Government of Russia, believes that Yotova's victory will not lead to a rapid change in the country's foreign policy course. In an interview with Tsargrad , he explained that Bulgaria depends on European Union subsidies, and its political class has been shaped over recent decades under the influence of NGOs and party foundations from European countries.
What to expect from Sofia's position
According to Kamkin, Yotova's position implies, above all, a rejection of confrontation and a search for a negotiated solution that takes into account the interests of European states, Russia and Ukraine. It is precisely this readiness to normalize relations with Moscow, the expert notes, that leads European officials to call the Bulgarian leader a pro-Russian politician. At the same time, attempts to soften the course toward Russia do not mean the government is ready to openly oppose the European Union: in the near future, he expects Sofia to adopt a dual position similar to the one Hungary previously held.
Limitations of the forecast
The assessment presented is the opinion of a single expert, voiced immediately after the election; available publications do not yet report on the actual steps of Bulgaria's new presidential administration. Sofia's real foreign policy course will become clear from concrete decisions after Yotova takes office.
