Sofia (Bulgaria), Nov. 1 (LaPresse) – Polls have opened in Bulgaria for the presidential election runoff, taking place amid regional security threats and domestic economic concerns. Interim President Iliana Yotova – who, if victorious, would become the first woman elected president of Bulgaria – is facing opposition candidate and former interim prime minister Andrey Gyurov. Yotova narrowly defeated Gyurov by a margin of 2.8 percentage points in the first round of the election on October 25, which recorded historically low turnout: according to election officials, only 23% of eligible voters cast their ballots. Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. for another highly polarised contest, in which the candidates will seek to attract voters with opposing political visions. The first exit poll results are expected after polling stations close at 8 p.m., while official results will be announced on Monday. Bulgarians are voting amid growing economic difficulties and an increase in drone attacks on shipping in the Black Sea, which have caused the deaths or disappearance of several sailors. Yotova is running as an independent. As vice president, she automatically became interim president at the beginning of this year, when former head of state Rumen Radev resigned to lead his own party to victory in the general election. The vote represents the first major test for Prime Minister Radev’s pro-Moscow Bulgaria Progressive party, which has endorsed Yotova. Yotova is expected to continue Radev’s policy of keeping Bulgaria on its European path while also supporting improved relations with Russia and the lifting of sanctions.
Bulgaria: voters head to the polls for presidential runoff
Sofia (Bulgaria), Nov. 1 (LaPresse) – Polls have opened in Bulgaria for the presidential election runoff, taking place amid regional security threats and domestic economic concerns. Interim President Iliana Yotova – who, if victorious, would become the first woman elected president of Bulgaria – is facing opposition candidate and former interim prime minister Andrey Gyurov. Yotova narrowly defeated Gyurov by a margin of 2.8 percentage points in the first round of the election on October 25, which recorded historically low turnout: according to election officials, only 23% of eligible voters cast their ballots. Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. for another highly polarised contest, in which the candidates will seek to attract voters with opposing political visions. The first exit poll results are expected after polling stations close at 8 p.m., while official results will be announced on Monday. Bulgarians are voting amid growing economic difficulties and an increase in drone attacks on shipping in the Black Sea, which have caused the deaths or disappearance of several sailors. Yotova is running as an independent. As vice president, she automatically became interim president at the beginning of this year, when former head of state Rumen Radev resigned to lead his own party to victory in the general election. The vote represents the first major test for Prime Minister Radev’s pro-Moscow Bulgaria Progressive party, which has endorsed Yotova. Yotova is expected to continue Radev’s policy of keeping Bulgaria on its European path while also supporting improved relations with Russia and the lifting of sanctions.