Bulgaria opened its polls on Sunday, 1 November 2026, for a second‑round presidential and vice‑presidential election that will decide who will sit in front of the country's highest offices. Nearly 6.6 million eligible voters were invited to choose between the incumbent President Iliana Iotova and her vice‑presidential running mate Kiril Valchev, and the challenger Andrey Gurov with Georgi Kandev as his selected candidate for vice president.
The vote, conducted across the nation's constituencies, marked a critical juncture for Bulgaria’s political future. The ballot placed the contest on a single page, with Iotova and Gurov both depicted alongside their respective vice‑presidential partners, indicating the electorate’s selection would be expressed for both top executive roles.
President Iliana Iotova, who has served since her inaugural election in 2022, cited her administration’s record on national security and economic reform as central to her campaign. Her campaign emphasized continuity, while her vice‑presidential partner Kiril Valchev was highlighted for his legislative experience. The coalition’s platform sought to maintain stability and further strengthen Bulgaria’s ties to the European Union and NATO.
Andrey Gurov, the former minister of foreign affairs, positioned himself as a reformer intent on overhauling domestic policy and advocating for a more progressive domestic agenda. He has a record of pushing for increased transparency in government, and his vice‑presidential nominee Georgi Kandev, an independent leader with a background in international business, was highlighted as a complement to Gurov’s policy goals.
The turnout, projected to be high given the narrow margin of the first round, will determine the final outcome of the presidency and vice‑presidency. Election officials are monitoring the ballots, with preliminary counts expected to be released in the following hours.
No definitive result has been announced in the reported coverage, and the outcome remains undetermined. What is known is that nearly 6.6 million eligible voters are engaged in this critical electoral process that will set the direction for Bulgaria’s executive leadership. The final tally will reveal whether the nation's electorate favors continuity with President Iotova and Kiril Valchev or prefers the new leadership backed by Andrey Gurov and Georgi Kandev. All that remains uncertain is the eventual winner, who will be confirmed through the official certification of the votes once the electoral commission completes its count.
