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# Iotova Is Bulgarias First Elected Female President

- [Made in Slatesource](https://slatesource.com/@steph/iotova-is-bulgarias-first-elected-female-president)
- By [Steph](https://slatesource.com/@steph)
- Created on Nov 2, 2026

## Second-round result (exit polls Nov 1 2026)

Iotova

57.9

Gyurov

39

[aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/11/1/bulgarian-president-yotova-leads-runoff-exit-polls-show?utm_source=slatesource)

## What is known and what is not

•

Iliana Iotova won Sunday's presidential runoff with 57.9% of the vote, against 39.0% for banker and former caretaker PM Andrey Gyurov. Gyurov conceded defeat late Sunday.

•

Iotova, 61, has been acting president since January 23 2026, when PM Rumen Radev resigned the presidency to lead Progressive Bulgaria into parliamentary elections. Radev's party won a majority in April 2026.

•

She becomes Bulgaria's first directly elected female head of state. She had already been the first female president by assumption.

•

The Bulgarian presidency is largely ceremonial. Iotova backs EU and NATO membership but opposes sending military aid to Ukraine and favours negotiated dialogue with Moscow.

•

The election backdrop: drone attacks on commercial vessels in Bulgaria's Black Sea economic zone in October 2026 left 21 people missing, the first such incidents in the area. Iotova called an emergency Security Council meeting but declined to name Russia as responsible.

•

Not confirmed:

[rte.ie](https://www.rte.ie/news/2026/1102/1597575-bulgaria-runoff/?utm_source=slatesource)

## Candidate positions

Position

Iotova

Gyurov

EU and NATO membership

Supports

Supports

Military aid to Ukraine

Opposes

Supports

Russia dialogue

Favours negotiations

Opposes without conditions

Black Sea attacks attribution

Declined to name Russia

Blamed Russia directly

Backed by

Progressive Bulgaria / BSP

Pro-Western opposition

First round share

34.76%

31.95%

[france24.com](https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20261101-bulgarians-vote-in-presidential-runoff-amid-security-tensions-in-the-black-sea?utm_source=slatesource)

> They understood our message: incomes, peace and the challenges that lie ahead.
>
> — rte.ie

What happens next

0%

Central Election Commission certifies full results (expected Nov 3-4)

Inauguration for a full five-year term (expected late January 2027)

Black Sea security situation: Iotova proposed a regional meeting of all six Black Sea states; no date set

Bulgaria's stance on Ukraine military aid: Iotova's position puts her at odds with most EU leaders but aligns with PM Radev's government

[aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/11/1/bulgarian-president-yotova-leads-runoff-exit-polls-show?utm_source=slatesource)

Sources: Al Jazeera (Nov 1-2 2026), RTÉ News (Nov 2), France24 (Nov 1), BTA Bulgarian News Agency (first-round final results), iz.ru (Gyurov concession). Turnout figures from Bulgaria's Central Election Commission. Vote shares from exit polls by Alpha Research and Trend; official count 72.65% complete as of Nov 2 01:00 EET.

[Al Jazeera: Initial results indicate victory for Iotova](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/11/1/bulgarian-president-yotova-leads-runoff-exit-polls-show?utm_source=slatesource)

[RTÉ News: Bulgaria's incumbent president Iotova wins runoff vote](https://www.rte.ie/news/2026/1102/1597575-bulgaria-runoff/?utm_source=slatesource)

[France24: Bulgarians vote amid Black Sea security tensions](https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20261101-bulgarians-vote-in-presidential-runoff-amid-security-tensions-in-the-black-sea?utm_source=slatesource)