Iliana Yotova becomes first woman elected president in Bulgaria

Unofficial results from Bulgaria’s presidential election indicate that Iliana Yotova defeated her rival Andrey Gyurov by capturing 57.4 percent of the vote. This outcome makes Yotova the first woman to assume the presidency through an electoral mandate in the country's history.

Election results and victory declaration

Data released by Alpha Research shows Gyurov received 39.6 percent of the ballots cast. The figures were broadcast on Bulgarian National Television (BNT), confirming a clear lead for Yotova. She had previously assumed the presidential role on January 23, 2026, following the resignation of President Rumen Radev on January 19, 2026.

Yotova addressed supporters at the National Palace of Culture (NDK) in Sofia alongside her vice-presidential running mate, Kiril Valchev, and Prime Minister Rumen Radev. During her speech, she declared victory and expressed gratitude to all citizens, regardless of whether they voted for her or not. She stated that her team would conduct comprehensive analyses to understand the concerns of various segments of society.

"I sincerely thank everyone who supported us, on behalf of myself and Vice Presidential candidate, now elected Vice President Mr. Valchev," Yotova said. She also revealed that her opponent, Andrey Gyurov, had called her personally to offer congratulations.

Vice President Valchev’s remarks

Kiril Valchev, who was also declared elected as Vice President, thanked voters for their support. He noted that high turnout reflected the public's desire for a female president in Bulgaria. Valchev emphasized his commitment to serving as a guarantor of democracy in the nation.

He highlighted that representing citizens would be one of his most fundamental duties. His comments underscored the significance of the electoral participation in shaping the country's leadership.

Prime Minister Radev congratulates winners

Prime Minister Rumen Radev spoke after the results emerged, praising the extraordinary mobilization effort that led to such impressive outcomes in a short period. He formally congratulated both Yotova and Valchev on their electoral success.

Radev offered specific remarks regarding Yotova, citing their decade-long acquaintance. "Ms. Yotova, we have known each other for 10 years. I believe you will be a worthy president for the country in this important task you must undertake during difficult times for Bulgaria," he stated.

Political stance on Russia and Ukraine

Yotova is known for advocating improved relations with Russia while opposing military aid to Ukraine. Her election victory marks a historic development in Bulgarian politics, given her distinct foreign policy positions compared to previous administrations.

Biographical background of Iliana Yotova

Born in Sofia in 1964, Iliana Yotova graduated from the Department of Bulgarian Philology at the Faculty of Slavic Philology, St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. She further specialized at the National School of Administration (ENA) in France and the European Studies Center in Strasbourg.

Her career began in journalism. From 1990 to 1997, she worked at Bulgarian National Television (BNT) as a reporter, editor, presenter, and director of news programs. Between 1997 and 2007, she managed the press center of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP).

Yotova served as a Member of Parliament from 2005 to 2007. In 2007, she was elected as a Member of the European Parliament (EP), a position she held until 2017. She became Vice President in 2017 before ascending to the presidency in early 2026.

Profile of Kiril Valchev

Kiril Valchev was born in Sofia in 1973 and holds a law degree from Sofia University. In 1995, he studied radio management at Deutsche Welle in Cologne, Germany. Two years later, he participated in the German Marshall Fund’s European Leaders Program in the United States as a fellow.

In 2003, Valchev completed an internship at the BBC’s Bulgarian service in London. Since 1994, he has written and presented radio programs while maintaining legal activities. From 2000 to 2004, he taught civil law at Sofia University’s Faculty of Law.

Valchev has been the managing partner of a law firm specializing in media and intellectual property since 2005. His legal practice covers media, intellectual property, civil law, and commercial law. Between 2019 and 2020, he served on an expert group within the Bulgarian Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Media, focusing on amendments to the Radio and Television Act.

Recognized with various awards in the media sector, Valchev worked at the Foreign News Service of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA) from 1993 to 1995. On January 27, 2021, the Bulgarian Parliament elected him as Director General of BTA.