Iliana Yotova Makes History as Bulgaria’s First Elected Female President

Iliana Yotova has made history after winning Bulgaria’s presidential runoff election, becoming the first woman elected to serve as the country’s president.

The 62-year-old acting president secured 57.58 per cent of the votes, according to near-final results released by the Central Election Commission on Monday, November 2. The commission had processed 99.95 per cent of polling station protocols.

Yotova contested the election alongside running mate Kiril Valchev. Their ticket defeated the opposition pairing of former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov and Georgi Kandev, who received 39.47 per cent of the votes.

Yotova’s Journey to Bulgaria’s Presidency

Yotova had already been serving as Bulgaria’s president since January 2026, following the resignation of former President Rumen Radev.

Radev stepped down to pursue a parliamentary career, paving the way for Yotova to take over the presidency before securing her own electoral victory.

Before becoming president, Yotova served as vice-president under Radev for two consecutive terms. The pair were first elected in 2016 and returned to office following their re-election in 2021.

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Her political career also includes a decade in the European Parliament. She served as a member of the European Parliament from 2007 to 2017.

Before entering politics, Yotova worked as a journalist at Bulgarian National Television.

Historic Milestone for Bulgaria

Yotova’s election marks a significant moment in Bulgaria’s political history, as the country has never previously elected a woman to its presidency.

Her victory places her among the women who have broken political barriers in their countries by securing election to the highest political office.

With 57.58 per cent of the votes, Iliana Yotova has now secured an electoral mandate to lead Bulgaria, following her earlier service as the country’s acting president.