Europeupdated 1h ago2 min read
Archive photo · 11 May 2018Ilijana Jotowa Wins Bulgaria Presidential Runoff, Ursula Von Der Leyen Congratulates
4 Western Mainstream1 Local Western1 Other1 West AsianPhoto: Alicia Fagerving, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cropped for layout
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Iliana Iotova wins the Bulgarian presidential runoff with about 58% support. She advocates dialogue with Russia and opposes military aid to Ukraine.
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Iotova wins, peace pitch
Ilijana Jotowa won Bulgaria’s presidential runoff with forecasts placing her between 57.4 and 58.2 percent of the vote, while Andrej Gjurow received between 38.6 and 39.6 percent, according to DIE WELT’s account of the result. Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Jotowa, writing on X, "From security and defence to our competitiveness and energy independence — I look forward to continuing our joint work," and she added, "For a strong Bulgaria in a strong Europe,".
Jotowa presented herself as the "President of Peace" and opposed military aid for Ukraine while supporting dialogue with Moscow, and DW described her as an acting president who would become Bulgaria’s first elected female head of state if official results confirm the projections. Andrej Gjurow conceded defeat on election night and commented, "We have laid a solid foundation on which we can build," as the election was framed as a decision on Bulgaria’s foreign policy course, especially regarding the Ukraine war and relations with Moscow.
Ukraine war, Black Sea
DW said the Ukraine war divided Bulgaria and that voters went to the polls amid growing security concerns in the Black Sea after a rise in drone attacks targeting commercial vessels.
In a TV debate before the runoff, Andrey Gyurov accused Iliana Yotova of avoiding direct criticism of Russia over the Black Sea attacks, saying, "Russia must stop its aggression so that the next steps can be taken. Let us name the country from which the threats are coming,".
Yotova replied that "peace can come only through negotiations" and maintained that continued aid for Ukraine "leads only to more destruction and the deaths of many people on both sides," according to DW.
Al Jazeera reported that the vote came as 21 people remained missing following drone attacks last month on commercial vessels off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, and it said the attacks were suspected to be spillover from Russia’s war on Ukraine.
What the presidency means
DW described Bulgaria’s presidency as largely ceremonial but said the president serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, can appoint interim governments during political crises, and can veto legislation. DIE WELT added that the head of state can veto laws and is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the NATO member state, and it said the election was overshadowed by drone attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea in the weeks prior.
blue News reported that Ilijana Jotowa offered a glimpse into her future EU policy by saying, "I voted so that Bulgaria will be a strong nation in a strong Europe, but also so that Bulgaria will have its own foreign policy and backbone when it comes to defending what matters most—the national interest,". CNBC said exit polls suggested Yotova about 52 percent of the vote while Andrey Gyurov trailed with around 44 percent, and it described the presidency as primarily ceremonial while noting that direct election gives the president greater political authority, including the ability to veto legislation and appoint ambassadors.