SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgaria’s next president will be elected in a runoff vote after a close race between the two main contenders ended inconclusively, official results showed on Monday.
With almost all ballots counted, the Central Election Commission said that incumbent Iliana Yotova attracted 34.8 percent compared with 32 percent for opposition candidate Andrey Gyurov.
Click to Gallery
Independent presidential candidate Andrey Gyurov who is backed by the pro-Western reformist opposition speak to journalists after casting his vote in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, during the Presidential Election. (Bulgarian News Agency via AP)
Incumbent President and presidential candidate Iliana Yotova speaks to journalists after polls close in Sofia, Bulgaria, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)
Front pages of Bulgarian newspapers display the results of the first round of the presidential election in Sofia, Bulgaria, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, as incumbent leftist Iliana Yotova and pro-Western reformist Andrey Gyurov advance to a Nov. 1 runoff following record-low voter turnout amid widespread political distrust. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)
Front pages of Bulgarian newspapers display the results of the first round of the presidential election in Sofia, Bulgaria, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, as incumbent leftist Iliana Yotova and pro-Western reformist Andrey Gyurov advance to a Nov. 1 runoff following record-low voter turnout amid widespread political distrust. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)
While turnout must be above 50% of the 6.6 million eligible voters for a first-round victory, only 22% had cast their ballots, according to polling agencies. The voter apathy was attributed by observers to a general mistrust in politicians.
The two candidates will pit contrasting political visions against each other in a highly polarized contest on Sunday. Contrary to pre-election expectations by observers for a double-digit difference in favor of Yotova, her opponent showed a surprisingly strong performance, leaving all options open for the runoff.
Bulgarians voted against a backdrop of growing economic hardship and drone attacks on Black Sea shipping, which have left several sailors dead or missing.
The vote was the first major test for the Moscow-friendly Progressive Bulgaria party of Prime Minister Rumen Radev after its triumph in parliamentary elections in April. The party had endorsed Yotova.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, Radev commented that many voters had stayed home because they believed the outcome had already been decided.
"While one side saw strong voter mobilization, the other appeared less engaged. I believe this could change in the runoff, given the stakes of this election,” he said, adding that the choice next Sunday will be “between peace and war”.
Yotova is running as an independent, but she also has the official backing of Progressive Bulgaria and the Socialist Party, where her career began.
If she wins, Yotova will become Bulgaria’s first elected female president. As vice president, she automatically became president earlier this year when Radev resigned to lead his party in the general election.
Yotova is expected to continue Radev’s policy of keeping Bulgaria on its European path, while also calling for improved relations with Russia and the lifting of sanctions. Both Yotova and Radev have called for a diplomatic solution to end the war in Ukraine.
Observers say that a victory for Yotova would keep the presidency in the hands of the ruling majority. Such a concentration of power could prevent the effective maintenance of checks and balances on policy decisions by institutions.
Yotova’s challenger is economist Gyurov, a former deputy governor of the central bank and caretaker prime minister who led the country in early 2026. He is backed by the pro-Western, reformist opposition.
Gyurov has often expressed firm support for Ukraine and signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv during his premiership.
“I want Bulgaria to have a voice of its own in Europe. I want it to be a reliable NATO ally that defends its interests through preparedness, strong diplomacy and a clear position,” he told supporters ahead of the election.
According to Radan Kanev, leader of Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria, one of the parties that back Gyurov, “democrats had been underestimated in these elections” by the ruling parties, polling agencies and the media.
“We saw the mobilization of people who want a strong European Bulgaria and want a balance of powers,” he said.
Independent presidential candidate Andrey Gyurov who is backed by the pro-Western reformist opposition speak to journalists after casting his vote in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, during the Presidential Election. (Bulgarian News Agency via AP)
Incumbent President and presidential candidate Iliana Yotova speaks to journalists after polls close in Sofia, Bulgaria, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)
Front pages of Bulgarian newspapers display the results of the first round of the presidential election in Sofia, Bulgaria, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, as incumbent leftist Iliana Yotova and pro-Western reformist Andrey Gyurov advance to a Nov. 1 runoff following record-low voter turnout amid widespread political distrust. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)
Front pages of Bulgarian newspapers display the results of the first round of the presidential election in Sofia, Bulgaria, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, as incumbent leftist Iliana Yotova and pro-Western reformist Andrey Gyurov advance to a Nov. 1 runoff following record-low voter turnout amid widespread political distrust. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)
Regional and world leaders congratulated Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva after he defeated challenger Flávio Bolsonaro to win an unprecedented fourth term.
Latin America’s left-leaning leaders were especially quick to react, but conservative presidents across the region also acknowledged Lula's victory and emphasized the need for their countries to cooperate with Brazil on issues like fighting organized crime and reducing deforestation in the Amazon basin.
By early Monday afternoon, the government of Argentina’s President Javier Milei was the only one in South America that had not publicly acknowledged the result. After a Cabinet meeting Monday, Milei’s office issued a statement addressing several international developments, including the wars in Iran and Ukraine, but made no mention of the election outcome in neighboring Brazil. During the presidential campaign, the libertarian leader openly backed Bolsonaro and called Lula a “corrupt thief.”
Lula remains a revered figure on the region’s left, having governed Brazil from 2003 to 2010, when leftist leaders held power across much of Latin America. Over the past two years, however, Lula's influence in South America has diminished, as most of Brazil's neighbors elected right-wing governments aligned with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Since returning to office in 2023, Lula has been a vocal Trump critic, challenging the administration on issues like trade tariffs and its support for Israel's actions in the West Bank and Gaza.
On Monday, Lula was also congratulated by the leaders of the BRICS nations, an alliance of emerging economies that was designed to challenge Western dominance in international affairs. Brazil is a founding member of the alliance, which held its first summit in 2009, during Lula's second term in office.
The leaders of major European nations also congratulated Lula, expressing their willingness to work with Brazil on issues like climate change.
Long live democracy, the people of Brazil won. Congratulations, President Lula!
Dear brother Lula, on behalf of the Cuban government and people, I congratulate you for this historic victory that ensures the continuity of the path of peace, sovereignty and social justice embarked upon by the Brazilian people under your leadership. Brazil can count on Cuba in the construction of the unity and integration of our Great Homeland, Latin America and the Caribbean.
President Lula and I have big, profound political and ideological differences, but we agree on something fundamental: Brazil and Colombia mutually need each other. We have a lot to do for the benefit of our people. Mutual respect, sovereignty and cooperation should define our relationship as well as the fight against narcoterrorism, illegal mining, the protection of the Amazon and the welfare of our people.
Chile and Brazil have a lot of shared future ahead, and we will continue working on an agenda that strengthens relations between our countries in economic integration and the fight against organized crime in the region.
Congratulations to Lula on this victory. Our region has common enemies, shared challenges and much to gain when we work together.
As we approach the bicentennial of our diplomatic relations, I reaffirm our willingness to strengthen our strategic alliance, integration, cooperation and the sustainable development of the Amazon that we share, for the benefit of both our peoples.
Bolivia and Brazil are neighboring and sister countries, united by a shared history and common challenges. We will continue working together to strengthen our relationship and generate more opportunities for our nations.
Congratulations, Lula, for your election as Brazil's president. I salute the Brazilian people for this great democratic day. Paraguay and Brazil share a common agenda of integration and development. We will continue to work together for the benefit of our people.
Congratulations to the Brazilian people for exercising their right to vote, and for electing their new president in a democratic and peaceful process. I wish the greatest prosperity to the 212 million brothers and sisters who live in the largest country in Latin America.
Congratulations (...) to you, comrade President Lula, who in your seventh presidential election knew how to awaken your compatriots’ passions and their reason to win this battle.
A great victory for Lula! What has happened in Brazil will happen in Spain. The comeback of global progressivism has just begun.
My heartfelt congratulations to Lula on your reelection. France and Brazil have much to build together. In the face of the great challenges of our time, let us strengthen our strategic partnership and bring to life the friendship between our two countries in service of a more just world.
Democracy and multilateralism have won in Brazil. Europe’s partnership with Brazil is thriving. We will remain by your side for the years to come. Together we will keep working closely for free and open trade. A rules-based global order. And strong ambitions for our climate.
Lula has stood up for Brazilian workers & democracy — and will continue to do so in the next four years.
For us in Ukraine, it is important that Brazil remains active in international affairs and continues to contribute to the effective protection of human rights, the rights of peoples, and the rights of states. We thank Brazil for its unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We look forward to expanding our cooperation.
The election results fully reaffirmed your fellow citizens’ recognition of your outstanding leadership qualities and their support for your policies aimed at ensuring the country’s sustainable socioeconomic development and defending its sovereignty and legitimate interests on the world stage.
We will, of course, continue working closely together to expand our fruitful bilateral cooperation across all areas and our constructive engagement within the United Nations, BRICS, the G20 and other multilateral frameworks.
My sincerest congratulations to my dear friend, President Lula, on his remarkable victory in the reelection.
Together, we will continue to strengthen our cooperation in various sectors, promote the shared priorities of the global south, and work toward a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable world.
China (...) expresses its congratulations. We are ready to work with Brazil to continue advancing the building of a China-Brazil community with a shared future.
This victory will echo beyond the shores of Brazil. It is a victory for the global south and progressive forces throughout the world. We affirm our commitment to continue strengthening bilateral relations between our two countries and working closely together in all multilateral fora to forge a just and better world order underpinned by solidarity and adherence to international law.
Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva celebrates with his running mate Geraldo Alckmin after winning a fourth term in the presidential runoff in , Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026.(AP Photo/Andre Penner)
