Bulgarian presidential election will test PM Radev’s influence — Balkan Insight
Bulgaria is set to hold presidential elections on October 25. Acting President Iliana Yotova is running for a full term with the support of Prime Minister Rumen Radev. Her victory would strengthen the political positions of the head of government and his Progressive Bulgaria party, Balkan Insight reports.
Yotova’s statements on the war
At an election event in Sofia on September 8, Yotova said that the war in Ukraine cannot be ended by military means. According to her, supplying more weapons and spending billions lead to new casualties and pit Orthodox peoples against one another.
According to the outlet, Yotova also promised to open diplomatic channels with Russia. Balkan Insight links her position to Radev’s softer approach toward the Kremlin.
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Candidates and GERB’s position
Among the main contenders for president, the outlet names Yotova, former caretaker prime minister Andrey Gyurov, whom it describes as a pro-European opposition politician, and former caretaker agriculture minister Ivan Hristanov. All three are running as independent candidates, although they have support from political forces to varying degrees.
The centre-right GERB party, which was Bulgaria’s dominant political force in 2008–2025, did not nominate a candidate in the presidential election. At the same time, Yotova’s initiative committee includes several GERB members, as well as pro-Russian figures, politicians previously associated with the socialists, and representatives of sports and the entertainment industry.
Ivaylo Madzharov, a representative of the Active Politics youth organisation, predicts a campaign in which social media narratives, slogans for different audiences and populist promises will compete. He considers Yotova the favourite in the race but does not rule out surprises.
