Iliyana Totowa wins re-election as President of Bulgaria

The former socialist Member of the European Parliament received up to 58 percent of the vote, according to projections from the Bulgarian research institutes Mjara and Alpha Research.

Totowa, 62, was supported by the ruling center-left party, Progressive Bulgaria (PB).

She is considered to be Russia-friendly and advocated for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to achieve peace prior to the election.

Her challenger, Andrey Gyurov, representing the pro-Western liberal-conservative opposition, received up to 39 percent of the vote.

If these projections are confirmed by the official results, Bulgaria, an EU and NATO member, will continue to have a president with roots in the political left. Totowa previously served as a spokesperson and member of the leadership of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), the successor to the communist state party.

Prior to casting her vote, Totowa indicated her future EU policy would prioritize Bulgaria’s strength within Europe while maintaining a distinct foreign policy and national interests. She stated, “I voted for Bulgaria to be a strong state in a strong Europe, but also for Bulgaria to have its own foreign policy and backbone when it has to defend what is most important – the national interest.”

Her experience as a Member of the European Parliament has shaped her European policy, advocating that smaller EU member states should not automatically adopt decisions made by larger countries.

Totowa has described herself as a “President of Peace” and expressed a willingness to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin if tasked by Bulgarian institutions. She is expected to continue the restrained approach previously taken by Prime Minister Rumen Radew, who she served as Vice President alongside until January 2026.

The election is being viewed as a test for Radew’s government, which has been in power since May, as Progressive Bulgaria directly supported Totowa.

The pro-Western opposition claims that voters have issued a “red card” to the government due to rising living costs, expensive fuel, and perceived failures in addressing income, prices, and corruption. Assen Vassilev, leader of the pro-Western liberal party PP, noted that Gyurov’s absolute vote count nearly doubled in the runoff.

With a turnout of 29.1 percent, according to researchers, the election saw slightly more participation than the first round a week ago, but remains low overall. Less than two million of Bulgaria’s 6.5 million eligible voters cast ballots.