Bulgarian president wins runoff vote as Black Sea attacks raise stakes

Iliana Yotova won Bulgaria's presidential runoff on November 2, securing 57.4% to 58.2% of the vote against Andrey Gyurov. Yotova, who supports dialogue with Moscow and opposes military aid to Ukraine, emphasized themes of income and peace in her campaign. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen congratulated her, highlighting future cooperation. The election occurred amid security concerns from recent drone attacks in the Black Sea, linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Yotova, previously vice president, aims for a strong Bulgaria within a strong Europe, while Gyurov acknowledged the election results and called for unity.