A deadly series of drone attacks on merchant ships off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast has raised the stakes of Sunday’s presidential election, Reuters reported. Roughly two dozen seafarers from other countries may have died. The strikes drew international condemnation and heightened concern that Russia’s war in Ukraine was reaching waters near Bulgaria.
Bulgaria has not directly blamed Russia. Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the outcome of the attacks benefits the Russian Federation. The strikes prompted the government to seek allied support for stronger maritime security. The Bulgarian government said Bulgaria and Türkiye agreed to deepen cooperation with Romania on Black Sea navigation.
Alpha Research polling puts Iotova at 41% and Gyurov at 28% in the 27-candidate race. Reuters described the Bulgarian presidency as largely ceremonial. Both leading candidates condemned the strikes, while they differ on the broader war.
Former caretaker prime minister Andrey Gyurov has long supported Ukraine and signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv while in office. Pro-Western reformist parties back his candidacy. At Thursday’s rally, Gyurov called for Bulgaria to state its own position in Europe and defend its interests through preparedness and diplomacy.
Iotova, a former vice president, assumed the acting presidency in January after Radev resigned to run in a parliamentary election and won. Radev backs Iotova, and both favor a diplomatic end to the war. Reuters said analysts have characterized the slate that carried Radev into parliament as friendly to the Kremlin. If she wins, Iotova would become Bulgaria’s first elected female president.
Voting is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 25. A runoff will be held Nov. 1 if no candidate wins a majority.