A deadly series of attacks on merchant ships near Bulgaria has raised the stakes of Sunday’s presidential election, with the leading candidates offering different approaches to the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported.
Alpha Research polling puts Iotova at 41% and Gyurov at 28% in the 27-candidate race, Reuters reported. Reuters described the Bulgarian presidency as largely ceremonial, but the ship strikes prompted the government to seek allied support for stronger maritime security. The attacks also drew international condemnation and heightened concern that Russia’s war in Ukraine was reaching waters near Bulgaria, Reuters said.
The drone attacks targeted merchant ships off the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Reuters reported that roughly two dozen seafarers from other countries may have died. Bulgaria has not directly blamed Russia; Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the attacks’ outcome “benefits the Russian Federation.” Both leading candidates condemned the strikes, according to Reuters.
The candidates 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, Reuters reported.
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.
The Bulgarian government said Bulgaria and Türkiye agreed to deepen cooperation with Romania on Black Sea navigation.
Voting is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 25. A runoff will be held Nov. 1 if no candidate wins a majority.
