Bulgaria’s Iotova Pledges Russia Reset After Presidential Win

Bulgaria’s Iliana Iotova has won a five-year presidential term after campaigning to reset relations with Russia, questioning further military support for Ukraine and urging Sofia to take a more assertive position toward the EU.

The acting president took 57.6% in Sunday’s runoff, defeating pro-EU opposition candidate Andrey Gyurov, who received 39.5%.

Her candidacy had the backing of Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria government and the Bulgarian Socialist Party, her former party.

Moscow and Brussels

Iotova presented herself to voters as “the President of peace,” advocating a more balanced approach to Moscow and expressing skepticism about additional military assistance for Kyiv.

“I don’t see Russia as an enemy state … I hope Russia will take part in Europe’s future security architecture,” she said during an October 30 YouTube interview with two pro-Russian commentators.

Her campaign also challenged Bulgaria’s approach to the EU. In a televised debate with Gyurov, she argued that routinely accepting Brussels’ positions had diminished the country’s influence.

“If you say yes to everything, which was Bulgaria’s case for decades, you are voiceless … but things have changed a lot, times have changed in the EU, too,” Iotova said.

Low Turnout and Security Questions

Participation reached 29.1%, recovering from the record low of 22.98% in the October 25 first round.

Iotova and Radev sidestepped questions about turnout at their election-night briefing, where the prime minister handled most of the questions.

The two had faced campaign criticism over their responses to drone attacks in the Black Sea, including Bulgaria’s zone, and accusations of inadequate preparedness.

Iotova dismissed the opposition’s criticism after the result, characterizing it as aggressive political attacks.

Kiril Valchev, director of the Bulgarian News Agency, will serve as vice president. His selection prompted questions about the relationship between political office and media freedom.

From Socialist Politics to the Presidency

Iotova assumed the acting presidency in January 2026 when Radev resigned to establish Progressive Bulgaria.

His party won April’s parliamentary election, and he became prime minister.

She had served as his vice president since his first presidential election victory in 2016, leaving the European Parliament to take the post.

Born in Sofia in 1964, Iotova previously worked as a presenter and news editor at Bulgarian National Television.

She entered the Moscow-aligned Socialist Party’s press office in 1997, during an economic crisis and mass protests against Socialist-led governments.

She became a Bulgarian MP in 2005 before winning European Parliament seats in 2007 and 2014.