Bulgaria has elected a president. Will there be a rapprochement with Russia?

On Monday, Bulgaria's Central Election Commission announced the official results of the presidential runoff, with Iliana Yotova winning 57.6% of the votes against former Prime Minister Andrei Gyurov's 39.5%. Yotova's victory marks her as the first female president in Bulgaria, strengthening Prime Minister Rumen Radev's position, who supported her candidacy. Yotova plans to continue a pro-European policy while improving relations with Russia, advocating for the lifting of sanctions. She shares Radev's stance on the Ukraine conflict, emphasizing diplomatic solutions over military aid. Despite a pro-Western parliamentary majority, Bulgarian society remains divided, with strong pro-Russian sentiments. Yotova's inauguration is set for January 22, 2027.