Bulgaria Heads to Presidential Runoff Next Sunday Amid Differing Views on Russia

Bulgaria’s presidential election has ended without a decisive result, sending the race to a second round next Sunday.

President Iliana Iotova will face former prime minister Andrey Gyurov in the runoff. Neither secured an outright victory in the initial vote.

The contest presents voters with two differing visions for Bulgaria’s relationship with Russia, placing foreign policy among the issues framing the race.

The second round will determine whether Iotova remains in the presidency or Gyurov takes over.