Bulgaria election heads to a run-off amid low voter turnout 

Bulgaria’s presidential election is heading to a run-off after polls closed with low voter turnout and no candidate passing the required threshold.

Incumbent President Iliana Iotova received between 35 and 36.5 percent of votes on Sunday, according to exit polls. She will now face former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, who scored between 31 and 33.5 percent, in a second round on November 1.

Minister of Interior Ivan Demerdzhiev said the elections “took place peacefully, without the usual practices of vote buying and vote manipulation”, Bulgarian National Television reported.

The NATO and European Union member state saw 27 presidential candidates run in the election.

A run-off was expected, as turnout must reach more than 50 percent of registered voters, and the candidate must secure more than 50 percent of the votes to win in the first round.

Voter turnout was 22.2 percent as of 8pm local time (18:00 GMT), according to the Measure polling agency.

Rising energy costs, inflation, attacks in the Black Sea and Russia’s war in Ukraine were the major issues in the lead-up to the vote.

A series of drone strikes on ships off Bulgaria’s coast, condemned by both candidates, dominated headlines during the campaign period.

Leftist Iotova is backed by Prime Minister Rumen Radev, whose Progressive Bulgaria party enjoyed success in April’s parliamentary elections. Iotova became president in January after serving as vice president.

A former member of the European Parliament and a journalist, she ran as an independent with the backing of both Progressive Bulgaria and the Socialist Party.

Should she win, she is expected to keep Bulgaria in line with Europe, while calling for improved relations with Russia.

After casting her vote, Yotova said she wanted to address “the dire issue of poverty” in Bulgaria, as well as “inequalities and regional disputes”, the AFP news agency reported.

“I believe that there must be peace, stability, and security,” she added.

Gyurov has the support of the country’s pro-Western opposition and signed a security cooperation agreement with Ukraine as prime minister.

He said on Sunday that he wanted “a Bulgaria that looks forward, a country that is European, free, and proud”.

“Next week, Bulgaria must choose between two personalities, two directions,” he said after the vote, and invited Iotova to a debate before the next round.

Although the role of president is largely ceremonial, the president leads the armed forces, can veto legislation and sign treaties.