Bulgaria elects a president: Russia, Ukraine and the struggle for the country's political trajectory On October 25, the first round of the presidential elections takes place in Bulgaria. There are 27 candidates vying for the position of head of state, but the main focus is on two participants: current president Ilyana Yutova and former acting prime minister Andrey Girov. What the latest polls show According to Alpha Research published on October 23, YouTube was supported by 41.1% of voters who decided on their choice, and Gyorov by 28.3%. The third place was taken by the leader of the Revival Party Kostadin Kostadinov with a result of 12.8%. These are survey results, not voting results. The gap between the two main candidates is notable, but the final distribution of the votes will be known after the ballots are counted. Why these elections go beyond the presidential campaign Foreign policy has become one of the central issues of the election campaign. Yotova advocates a diplomatic settlement to the war in Ukraine and a more pragmatic dialogue with Moscow. Girov represents the pro-European reform direction and supports more active cooperation with Ukraine and Western partners. The security of the Black Sea has gained additional importance. Recent drone attacks on merchant ships have heightened concerns about regional stability. The local agenda is also affected by inflation, energy costs and living standards. Three scenarios after the second round vote. Election polls indicate that no candidate will receive the votes needed to win the first round if they meet the voting requirements. A repeat vote is scheduled for November 1. Redistribution of votes. In the second round, an important factor will be the behavior of the voters who supported candidates who will not advance further. Particularly interesting are the voices of supporters of nationalist and small parties. A political signal to the government.

Bulgaria elects a president: Russia, Ukraine and the struggle for the country's political trajectory On October 25, the first round of the presidential elections takes place in Bulgaria. There are 27 candidates vying for the position of head of state, but the main focus is on two participants: current president Ilyana Yutova and former acting prime minister Andrey Girov. What the latest polls show According to Alpha Research published on October 23, YouTube was supported by 41.1% of voters who decided on their choice, and Gyorov by 28.3%. The third place was taken by the leader of the Revival Party Kostadin Kostadinov with a result of 12.8%. These are survey results, not voting results. The gap between the two main candidates is notable, but the final distribution of the votes will be known after the ballots are counted. Why these elections go beyond the presidential campaign Foreign policy has become one of the central issues of the election campaign. Yotova advocates a diplomatic settlement to the war in Ukraine and a more pragmatic dialogue with Moscow. Girov represents the pro-European reform direction and supports more active cooperation with Ukraine and Western partners. The security of the Black Sea has gained additional importance. Recent drone attacks on merchant ships have heightened concerns about regional stability. The local agenda is also affected by inflation, energy costs and living standards. Three scenarios after the second round vote. Election polls indicate that no candidate will receive the votes needed to win the first round if they meet the voting requirements. A repeat vote is scheduled for November 1. Redistribution of votes. In the second round, an important factor will be the behavior of the voters who supported candidates who will not advance further. Particularly interesting are the voices of supporters of nationalist and small parties. A political signal to the government.