Bulgaria presidential runoff pits pro-Western challenger against incumbent Jotowa
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Bulgaria held a decisive presidential runoff on Sunday between incumbent Ilijana Jotowa, a former MEP backed by the ruling center-left Progressive Bulgaria party and the Socialists, and pro-Western former interim prime minister Andrej Gjurow, a 50-year-old economist supported by the reform-minded liberal-conservative opposition. The runoff was necessary because no candidate won an absolute majority in the first round, where Jotowa took 34.76 percent and Gjurow 31.95 percent. The Ukraine war has shaped the campaign: Jotowa advocates a negotiated peace with Russia, while Gjurow is expected to align more closely with Western partners and support Ukraine more strongly. The vote is seen as a test for the half-year-old center-left government, with rising living costs and fuel prices worrying voters in one of the EU's poorest countries. About 6.5 million eligible voters can cast ballots until 8 p.m. local time, with official results unlikely on election night.
Source report
Only 22.2 percent of citizens had cast their votes in the previous election. Photo: Valentina Petrova/AP/dpa
dpa | A decisive runoff election for the presidency has begun in Bulgaria, an EU and NATO member state. Incumbent President Ilijana Jotowa, a former member of the European Parliament, is facing off against the consistently pro-Western former interim prime minister Andrej Gjurow. The 50-year-old economist, who holds a doctorate, is backed by the reform-minded liberal-conservative opposition camp.
The runoff became necessary because none of the 27 candidates achieved an absolute majority in the first round last Sunday. The two top finishers, Jotowa and Gjurow, received 34.76 and 31.95 percent of the vote, respectively.
In the first round, the 62-year-old Jotowa was supported by the sole governing center-left party Progressive Bulgaria (PB) and by the Socialists (BSP), whose spokesperson she once was. For the runoff, pro-Russian nationalists have also voiced their support for her.
Ukraine War Shapes Bulgaria's Election
The war in Ukraine, not far from Bulgaria, lends new significance to the election in the country on NATO's eastern flank. During the campaign, Jotowa repeatedly advocated a peace solution for Ukraine through negotiations with Russia. The runoff is likely to determine whether Jotowa continues the restrained line of Prime Minister Rumen Radew in the presidential office; she served as his deputy before he stepped down as head of state.
Should Gjurow win, he is likely to set different foreign policy priorities. He is expected to pursue a closer alignment with Western partners and stronger support for Ukraine in Russia's war of aggression.
Election as a Test for the Center-Left Government
Rising living costs and expensive fuel are causing growing concern among people in one of the EU's poorest countries. The presidential election is seen as a test for the government after six months in office, as the governing PB party directly supports candidate Jotowa.
Around 6.5 million eligible voters can cast their ballots until 7:00 p.m. CET (8:00 p.m. local time). Pollster forecasts may only be published after polls close. Official results are hardly expected on election night.
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Source
taz.de - taz.deWestern
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Bulgaria: Russia-friendly incumbent Yotova wins presidential runoff, projections show