In brief
In a heated campaign, Iotova vows to keep Bulgarian troops out of Ukraine and to push for diplomatic talks, while Gurov urges voters with a call for greater responsibility. The runoff attracted low turnout, with the Central Election Commission reporting just 19.33% participation so far.
On Sunday, as Bulgarian voters prepared for the second round of the presidential election, two leading candidates offered contrasting visions for the nation’s future. Presidential candidate Iliana Iotova, who had campaigned across towns from Pazardzhik to Kardzhali, pledged that she would never allow Bulgarian troops to fight in Ukraine and called for immediate diplomatic negotiations to end the conflict. Her running mate, Kiril Valchev, echoed the commitment to keep soldiers at home while emphasizing the need for a balanced foreign policy that would shield the country from further geopolitical shocks.
Iotova’s speech in Pazardzhik on 28 October 2026 added that the security architecture of the European Union—and of Europe as a whole—depends on general peace. She warned that without a clear end to hostilities the Black Sea, where Bulgarian ports and maritime commerce remain vulnerable, would continue to face “the sinking of ships, and drone attacks.” In the same address, Iotova urged that Bulgaria “support education, culture, and folklore to build a sustainable value system among young people.” She explained, “Unlike those who say these are relics of the past, our view is that this patriotism is needed precisely now so that our children can have strong roots, and whatever may happen to them – no matter what storms may befall them – these roots will protect them.”
Earlier that week, Iotova took the platform of a televised debate on Bulgarian National Television in Sofia. She called for a genuine peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia and noted the necessity of including all parties in the negotiations, saying that Russia “could not be excluded as a party because no one else could decide on its behalf.” She criticized the escalation of military aid that “increases destruction and the deaths of innocent people” and urged the European Union to convene a multilateral meeting with Romania, Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine and Russia to discuss Black Sea security and a hostilities moratorium.
Peace and Security: Iotova’s Priorities
On 30 October, Iotova spoke on Bulgarian National Radio, urging citizens to vote in the forthcoming runoff. She declared that every vote carries equal weight, whether cast in a small village or Sofia, and likened Europe’s face to a blank canvas that Bulgaria must fill with its own voice. Iotova added that the upcoming election is a chance for Bulgarians to choose “what kind of Bulgaria they want” and called themselves “awakener” on National Awakeners’ Day, a tradition observed on 1 November. She framed the choice as “a strong, sovereign Bulgaria” with a presidency committed to peace, the Constitution and national dialogue.
Meanwhile, presidential candidate Andrey Gurov used the same debate stage to criticize “a campaign in which people were frightened by talk of war and invented enemies.” His call for a dignified turnout was backed by a direct invitation for voters to bring a friend, a gesture that underscored his view that civic engagement can be a communal activity. After the debate, Gurov addressed the nation on Bulgarian National Radio, saying, “We do not want more power, we want more responsibility, and that responsibility starts with me.” He continued, “We started out with a clear idea of what was not working in the country, but along the way we heard much more. If I had to sum it all up in one sentence, it would be: ‘That’s just how things are here.’”
On the same day, the National Assembly Chair Michaela Dotsova posted an invitation to vote on Facebook, reminding citizens that “we can and must vote on Sunday.” Her post underscored the element of consistency, experience, and statehood as the foundations for her support of the electoral process.
Following the debate, turnout numbers posed a stark picture. According to Central Election Commission spokesperson Stoyanka Balova‑Tsvetkova, national participation stood at 19.33% as of 4 p.m. Sunday, a modest increase of 3.5 percentage points over the 15.95% in the first round. The highest turnout, 29.21%, came from Sofia’s 23rd electoral district, while the lowest, 9.84%, was reported from Kardzhali. The commission noted 56 reports of alleged violations, largely concerning campaigning and the publication of opinion polls, and highlighted that machine voting was suspended in 21 polling stations, a measure taken for technical reasons and not power outages.
In the context of such low engagement, both Iotova and Gurov reiterated the critical need for citizens to exercise their right to vote. Gurov added that a secure, stable, and European Bulgaria would “uphold its civilizational choice clearly and confidently,” while Iotova reminded voters that “an uncast vote does not leave an empty space; someone else decides in our place, but at our expense.” Their call converged on the theme that civic participation is the first step toward a Bulgaria that prioritizes scholarly heritage, security, and sustainable development for future generations.
