Sofia (Bulgaria), 25 Oct. (LaPresse/AP) – Bulgarians are heading to the polls today to elect their next president, whilst drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea and mounting economic difficulties are weighing heavily on voters’ minds. Today’s election marks the first major test for Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s pro-Moscow Progressive Bulgaria party following its victory in the parliamentary elections in April. Despite a record number of candidates, the race is expected to be decided in a run-off between the outgoing President Iliana Yotova, backed by Radev’s party, and the former interim Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, supported by pro-Western opposition parties. The election campaign has largely centred on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the escalation of hostilities in the Black Sea, where recent drone attacks on merchant ships off the Bulgarian coast have heightened security concerns within the European Union and in Bulgaria, a NATO member state. A run-off is likely, as none of the 27 candidates is expected to secure a majority in today’s first round. Voter turnout must exceed 50 per cent of the 6.6 million registered voters, and the winner must secure an absolute majority of the votes.
Bulgaria: Presidential elections today, with 6.6 million set to vote
Sofia (Bulgaria), 25 Oct. (LaPresse/AP) – Bulgarians are heading to the polls today to elect their next president, whilst drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea and mounting economic difficulties are weighing heavily on voters’ minds. Today’s election marks the first major test for Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s pro-Moscow Progressive Bulgaria party following its victory in the parliamentary elections in April. Despite a record number of candidates, the race is expected to be decided in a run-off between the outgoing President Iliana Yotova, backed by Radev’s party, and the former interim Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, supported by pro-Western opposition parties. The election campaign has largely centred on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the escalation of hostilities in the Black Sea, where recent drone attacks on merchant ships off the Bulgarian coast have heightened security concerns within the European Union and in Bulgaria, a NATO member state. A run-off is likely, as none of the 27 candidates is expected to secure a majority in today’s first round. Voter turnout must exceed 50 per cent of the 6.6 million registered voters, and the winner must secure an absolute majority of the votes.