In brief
Sofia’s Central Election Commission released preliminary counts showing Iliana Iotova and Kiril Valchev topping the second‑round vote with about 58 percent, while opponents Andrey Gurov and Georgi Kandev lag at 39 percent. Results are based on 52.42 percent of tally sheets processed, and further updates are expected as more ballots come in. The early figures signal a likely victory for the incumbent pair.
Sofia, Bulgaria—The Central Election Commission (CEC) announced that incumbent President Iliana Iotova and her vice‑presidential running mate Kiril Valchev are leading the second round of the November 1 presidential election.
According to TASS, after 17.39 percent of the election commission protocols were processed by 11:00 p.m. local time (09:00 p.m. GMT), Iotova and Valchev were in the lead with 57.943 percent of the votes counted.
Later that evening, BTA reported that 52.42 percent of tally sheets had been processed, yielding 57.95 percent of the vote for the same pair, equal to 580,918 ballots.
Andrey Gurov and Georgi Kandev, their challengers, received 39.01 percent, or 390,988 votes, while the “None of the above” option accounted for 3.04 percent, or 30,473 voters.
The preliminary count demonstrates a clear advantage for Iotova and Valchev, who have been in the lead throughout the political opposition’s attempts to mobilize support. The 12.94‑point margin reflects the incumbent’s consolidation of voter confidence amid national concerns about economic policy and foreign affairs.
Given that only half of the tally sheets have been reviewed, the CEC will continue to publish results as more Regional Election Commissions submit their data. A full declaration is expected once all 100 percent of ballots are tallied.
Voters across Bulgaria have turned out in high numbers, and the runoff’s intense competition has drawn attention to the parties’ differing platforms on healthcare reform, corruption, and EU relations.
As the final results are pending, observers cautiously monitor the ongoing announcements, noting that initial tallies can shift marginally as remaining precincts report.
