Politics

Incumbent Ilijana Jotowa wins presidential election in Bulgaria

Ilijana Jotowa has reportedly won the presidential election in Bulgaria, defeating Andrej Gjurow.

1 November 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Incumbent Ilijana Jotowa wins presidential election in Bulgaria — Archive photoPhoto: Unknown author Unknown author · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

In Bulgaria, incumbent Ilijana Jotowa has won the presidential election according to forecasts. The projections show that Jotowa is significantly ahead of her challenger Andrej Gjurow in the runoff.

According to Deutschlandfunk, Jotowa received approximately 60 percent of the votes, while Gjurow received about 40 percent. Voter surveys indicated a clear majority in favor of the president.

The election took place against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, which also influenced the campaign topics. Jotowa, who sees herself as the "President of Peace," advocated for a dialogue with Russia during the campaign.

Initial reports from the election suggest that Jotowa was slightly leading in the first round but was apparently able to significantly increase her position in the runoff.

With this victory, the interim president would become the first woman to hold this office in Bulgaria's history, a fact highlighted by several sources. However, political tensions and differences will likely remain in focus.

Voter turnout and further details regarding the results are still pending and are expected to be released in the coming hours.

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