The facts
AP reported that exit polls made Yotova the apparent winner and that Gyurov conceded. The CEC began publishing its second-round count later on 1 November; the first partial figures reported at 23:00 local are documented below. [1][4][7][8]
The runoff is between acting President Iliana Yotova and Andrey Gyurov. The first-round Central Election Commission results in this article remain dated 25 October and do not determine the runoff winner. [1][4]
AP described Yotova as the apparent winner based on polling-agency results and reported Gyurov conceded. The first official partial count was still incomplete; no formal winner declaration or final turnout was verified. [4][7][8]
bTV reported Market Links’ completed parallel-count sample gave Yotova 56.6% and Gyurov 40.6%; the agency estimated turnout at 29.8%. [5]
Bulgarian National Radio reported Myara’s completed parallel-count sample gave Yotova 58.2% and Gyurov 38.6%, with 27.2% turnout. Its estimates differ from Market Links’. [6]
BGNES and 24 Chasa reported the CEC’s first second-round data as of 23:00 on 1 November: 17.39% of precinct protocols processed, with Yotova and Valchev at 57.943% (182,002 votes) and Gyurov and Kandev at 39.007% (122,522 votes). [7][8]
The CEC turnout figure reported in the same bulletin was 19.33% as of 16:00 on 1 November; this is not final turnout. [7]
At midnight local on 2 November, Actualno and Dnes separately reported the CEC's interim national count at 52.42% of precinct protocols: Yotova and Valchev had 57.954% (580,918 votes), while Gyurov and Kandev had 39.006% (390,988 votes). These were partial results, not a final declaration. [9][10]
The CEC national count timestamped 05:00 local on 2 November showed Yotova and Kiril Aleksandrov Valchev at 57.661% (1,091,206 votes) and Gyurov and Georgi Kandev at 39.383% (745,303 votes), with 99.68% of precinct protocols processed. This is a near-complete count, not a formal final declaration. [11]
The same count recorded 55,938 votes (2.956%) for “I support nobody.” Final turnout and the formal national result remain pending. [11]
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen publicly congratulated Yotova on her victory; this is separate from the CEC’s still-incomplete 99.68%-processed count. [12]
At 09:15 local on 2 November the CEC live results showed 100.00% of regional protocols processed: Yotova and Valchev had 1,093,852 votes (57.566%), Gyurov and Kandev had 750,251 (39.483%), and 56,080 (2.951%) selected “I support nobody.” Reuters and Bulgarian National Radio report Yotova won. [11][13][14]
Bulgarian National Radio reported approximately 27% turnout; the opened CEC page did not state final turnout or a formal certification date. [14][11]
Still unconfirmed
- The date and legal form of the CEC’s formal certification, and the final turnout figure, were not stated in the opened CEC live-results page.
Corrections & updates
Substantive update, 1 November: added the start of runoff voting, scheduled poll close and expected official-results timing from AP. The first-round totals remain dated 25 October; no runoff winner or turnout is asserted.
Added separately attributed, completed parallel-count estimates from two polling agencies. Kept the election developing because the pollster estimates are not an official result.
Substantive update: added the first CEC second-round partial count reported at 23:00 local by BGNES and 24 Chasa, plus AP’s report that Gyurov conceded. The count covers 17.39% of protocols; no final result, final turnout or formal winner is asserted.
Substantive update, 2 November: replaced the initial 17.39%-processed snapshot with the later CEC interim tally at 52.42% of protocols, reported independently by Actualno and Dnes. The final national count and formal winner declaration remain pending.
Substantive update, 2 November: replaced the earlier 52.42%-processed snapshot with the CEC’s later national tally timestamped 05:00 local and covering 99.68% of protocols. Yotova remains ahead; no formal winner or final turnout is asserted.
Correction and substantive update, 2 November UTC: corrected running mate Kiril Aleksandrov Valchev’s name (the earlier article said Tihomir), and clarified that the CEC’s 99.68%-processed near-final count is distinct from a formal final declaration. Added the European Commission president’s congratulation without overstating the count as complete.
Substantive update, 2 November: replaced the 99.68%-processed interim snapshot with the CEC page’s 09:15 local return showing 100.00% of protocols processed. Reuters and Bulgarian National Radio report Yotova won. No formal certification date or final turnout is claimed.
Sources
References support the numbered facts above. Source checks: 2 Nov 2026, 10:12 UTC.
The CEC live page at 09:15 local on 2 November processed 100.00% of regional protocols and gives exact vote totals; Reuters and Bulgarian National Radio independently report Yotova won. Formal certification date and final turnout are unspecified.
- National first-round presidential results
Central Election Commission of Bulgaria · Primary source
- Commission announces first-round result and 1 November runoff
Bulgarian National Television · Reporting · 27 Oct 2026
- Yotova and Gyurov advance in the presidential election
The Sofia Globe · Reporting · 26 Oct 2026
Updated 28 October. Exact vote figures come from the commission’s national table.
- Exit polls suggest Yotova wins Bulgaria presidential runoff
The Associated Press · Reporting · 1 Nov 2026
Actual current report read. It states polls opened at 7 a.m. local time, identifies the two tickets, gives the scheduled close and says official results were expected Monday. It does not report a winner.
- Market Links parallel count puts Yotova ahead in Bulgaria runoff
bTV News · Reporting · 1 Nov 2026
Opened report: Market Links said its parallel count sample was 100% processed and gave Yotova 56.6%, Gyurov 40.6%; it is a pollster tabulation, not the official CEC count.
- Myara parallel count puts Yotova at 58.2%, Gyurov at 38.6%
Bulgarian National Radio · Reporting · 1 Nov 2026
Opened report: Myara reported a completed 100% parallel-count sample with different shares and turnout from Market Links; these are not official results.
- CEC first runoff data: Yotova leads Gyurov with 17.39% of protocols processed
BGNES · Reporting · 1 Nov 2026
Actual Bulgarian news-agency page opened. It attributes the figures to the CEC and dates the count to 23:00 local on 1 November; 17.39% of precinct protocols were processed.
- First CEC results: Yotova 57.94%, Gyurov 39%
24 Chasa · Reporting · 1 Nov 2026
Actual Bulgarian newspaper page opened. Independently reports the same CEC figures as of 23:00 local, with 17.39% of protocols processed.
- At 52.42% of processed protocols, Yotova continues to lead convincingly
Actualno · Reporting · 2 Nov 2026
Actual page opened; it attributes the 52.42% national interim tally to CEC data updated at midnight local.
- With 52.42% of protocols processed, Yotova leads Gyurov
Dnes / DIR.bg · Reporting · 2 Nov 2026
Actual page opened; independently reports the same interim CEC national data and labels it as incomplete.
- Presidential runoff national results – Central Election Commission live results page
Central Election Commission of the Republic of Bulgaria · Primary source · 2 Nov 2026
Opened live national CEC results page; at 09:15 local on 2 November it showed 100.00% of regional protocols processed and the vote totals in the article. The page does not state a formal certification date or final turnout.
- European Commission president congratulates Yotova on her victory in Bulgaria’s presidential election
Anadolu Agency · Reporting · 2 Nov 2026
Opened current report: Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Yotova; it reports completed parallel counts from five polling agencies. The CEC national result remains at 99.68% processed in the official page.
- Bulgaria’s Iotova wins presidential runoff, near-final results show
Reuters, via MarketScreener · Reporting · 2 Nov 2026
Opened Reuters report describes Yotova as winner on near-final returns and the first woman elected head of state; predates 100% processed CEC snapshot.
- Iliana Iotova is Bulgaria’s 7th president and first woman elected to the post
Bulgarian National Radio · Reporting · 2 Nov 2026
Opened national broadcaster report: 100% of polling-station protocols were processed and vote totals match the CEC; approx. 27% turnout remains attributed.