Sofia:Bulgaria's presidential election is set to proceed to a runoff on November 1, as no candidate secured more than 50% of the vote in the initial round.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, unofficial results from polling agencies indicate that incumbent President Iliana Yotova and her vice-presidential running mate Kiril Valchev garnered 34.6% of the vote, while former Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov and his running mate Georgi Kandev obtained 32.7%.

Voter turnout was notably low, standing at 22.5% according to Alpha Research, and slightly lower at 22.2% according to Myara's unofficial results. Yotova and Gyurov will face each other in the forthcoming runoff election.

Following the closure of the polls, Yotova expressed concerns about the low voter turnout but extended her gratitude to the Bulgarian citizens who participated and supported her. She emphasized the importance of voting for change in the country and stated her campaign's intention to engage more decisively with all Bulgarian citizens. Yotova underscored the need for stable governance over political alliances.

Meanwhile, Gyurov issued a challenge to Yotova for a public debate ahead of the runoff, emphasizing the need for an active president to unite citizens. He invited Yotova to participate in an open, honest, and civilized debate to present their respective views on exercising presidential powers and decision-making during challenging times for Bulgaria.