The candidates for the second round of Bulgaria's early presidential election have been determined. Preliminary results from the October 25 vote put the ticket of incumbent President Iliyana Yotova and vice-presidential candidate Kiril Valchev in first place, followed by Andrey Gyurov and Georgi Kandev. The runoff is scheduled for November 1.
According to Bulgaria's Central Election Commission, with 99.95% of polling-station returns processed on the morning of October 26, Yotova and Valchev had received 34.759% of the vote.
Gyurov and Kandev received 31.953%, putting the two leading tickets approximately 2.8 percentage points apart.
Kostadin Kostadinov and Petar Volgin finished third with 12.544%.
None of the candidates secured the majority required to win in the first round. Voters will therefore return to the polls on November 1 to choose between the two leading tickets.
The early election follows the resignation of President Rumen Radev in January 2026. Radev left office to participate in the parliamentary campaign and subsequently became Bulgaria's prime minister.
After his resignation, former Vice President Iliyana Yotova took over the duties of head of state.
Yotova enjoys support from socialists and political groups that favor continued diplomatic engagement with Russia. Gyurov, who previously served as caretaker prime minister, is associated with pro-European reformist parties and supports Ukraine.
The candidates' differences matter for Bulgaria's foreign-policy position, including relations with Russia, participation in European security policy and assistance to Ukraine.
Bulgaria belongs to both the European Union and NATO and occupies a strategically important position in the Black Sea region.
However, presidential powers are limited under the country's parliamentary system. The government makes the main decisions on day-to-day executive policy.
The preliminary results confirm that a runoff is necessary, but do not determine its eventual winner.