Bulgarians on Sunday began voting in a highly contested presidential runoff following a tight race between the two main contenders last weekend.

The November 1 runoff pits two competing visions of Bulgaria against each other. Moscow-friendly incumbent Iliana Yotova opposes military aid to Ukraine , while former caretaker prime minister Andrey Gyurov is backed by the pro-Western opposition.

In last Sunday's first round, which saw voter turnout fall to a historic low, Yotova won with 34.76% of the vote, less than three percentage points ahead of Gyurov with 31.95%.

Iliana Yotova (left) beat Andrey Gyurov (right) by a narrow margin in the first round on October 25, 2026 Image: BGNES

Although Bulgaria's presidency has largely ceremonial duties, the president can appoint interim governments during political crises, serve as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and veto legislation.

Ukraine war divides Bulgaria

The war in Ukraine has become a central issue in the election, with voters heading to the polls…