Bulgaria's incumbent President Iliana Iotova secured victory in the presidential runoff held on Sunday, according to exit polls from several agencies.

Exit polls conducted after polls closed showed Iotova and running mate Kiril Valchev receiving between 50.7% and 52.5% of the vote. Her opponent, former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov and running mate Georgi Kandev, trailed with 43.4% to 44.7%. Between 4.1% and 4.3% of voters chose neither candidate.

The results mark a decisive win for Iotova, who had advanced from the first round on October 25 with 34.7% of the vote against Gyurov's 31.9%. No candidate achieved an outright majority in the initial round, triggering the runoff.

Voter turnout remained low, estimated at around 29% in the runoff, up slightly from the record low of about 23% in the first round. Analysts attributed the persistently low participation to widespread political apathy and distrust in institutions.

Iotova, backed by Prime Minister Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria party, campaigned on a platform favoring dialogue with Russia and opposing military aid to Ukraine. Gyurov, supported by pro-Western opposition groups, advocated closer alignment with the EU and NATO.

Official results are expected later as vote counting continues. Iotova, who assumed the presidency in January after Radev resigned, will serve a full term beginning in 2027 if confirmed.