Exit polls show Ilijana Jotova set to win Bulgaria’s presidential election

Ilijana Jotova, who advocates dialogue with Russia and opposes military support for Ukraine, would therefore win the second round of the election, in which she faced the more pro-Western Andrei Gjurov, who wants to see a greater NATO presence in the Black Sea. According to the polls, he is expected to receive around 44 percent of the vote.

According to public broadcaster BNT, just over 4 percent voted for the “None of them” option.

The presidential election has focused mainly on economic hardship and the war in Ukraine.

A series of drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea has fueled debate about the war and the security situation ahead of the election for the Bulgarian presidency, a largely ceremonial role.