---
title: Iliana Iotova Becomes Bulgaria's First Elected Woman President With 57.6% of the Runoff Vote
description: Iliana Iotova won Bulgaria's presidential runoff with 57.6% of the vote, the first woman elected head of state. Who she is and what comes next.
author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2026-11-03T11:00:29.595Z
updated: 2026-11-03T11:00:29.627Z
canonical: https://richwoman.co/article/iliana-iotova-bulgaria-first-elected-woman-president
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/pexels-18345751.webp
categories: Female leadership, Power & Money
content_type: News
region: Bulgaria
publication: Rich Woman Magazine
about:
  - type: Person
    name: Iliana Iotova
    description: Bulgarian politician and former journalist. A former member of the European Parliament, she served as vice president under Rumen Radev and became acting president in January 2026. On 1st November 2026 she won the presidential runoff, becoming the first woman elected head of state in Bulgaria.
    jobTitle: President of Bulgaria
---

Bulgaria has elected a woman as head of state for the first time. Near-final results from the Central Election Commission on Monday 2nd November showed acting President Iliana Iotova winning Sunday's runoff with 57.58% of the vote, about 1.1 million ballots, Reuters reported. Her opponent, former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, took 39.47%, or about 749,500 votes, and conceded, saying the results had to be accepted, according to the Associated Press. About 2.95% of voters chose the ballot option 'I support no one'.

Iotova has held the office since January. As vice president, she took over when Rumen Radev resigned to lead his party into a general election, which Progressive Bulgaria won in April. Radev is now prime minister, and Sunday's vote made Iotova the first woman Bulgarians have chosen for the presidency at the ballot box.

Her surname appears in two spellings in English: Reuters writes Iotova, while the Associated Press writes Yotova.

## A journalist who became head of state

The Associated Press describes the 62-year-old as a journalist and former member of the European Parliament. Her political career began in the Bulgarian Socialist Party, and she ran in this election as an independent with the backing of both Progressive Bulgaria and the Socialists. She served as Radev's vice president through both of his terms.

After her win, she said she would work for national consensus by bridging political divisions, the Associated Press reported.

## What the Bulgarian president can do

The presidency is mainly ceremonial, but it carries real powers. The president leads the armed forces, can veto legislation, signs international treaties and appoints ambassadors. Presidents are elected directly for five years and can serve two terms, and the Associated Press notes that the direct vote gives the holder more political weight than the formal role suggests. Iotova is expected to be inaugurated in January.

## A milestone that also raises a question about direction

The vote was the first major test for Radev's Progressive Bulgaria, which the Associated Press describes as Moscow-friendly. Reuters reports that many analysts consider the ticket Radev won on in April to be Kremlin-friendly, and that he and Iotova have both called for a diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine. The Associated Press expects her to keep Bulgaria on its European path while also supporting better relations with Russia and the lifting of sanctions. Gyurov stood as the candidate of the liberal, pro-Western opposition.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated her on X with the words 'For a strong Bulgaria in a strong Europe', the Associated Press reported.

Turnout stayed low throughout. Reuters noted it again for the runoff. In the first round on 25th October, only about 22% of the 6.6 million eligible voters cast a ballot, according to polling agencies cited by the Associated Press, a record low. Iotova led that round with 34.6% to Gyurov's 32%.

## Part of a year of firsts for women in politics

Iotova joins a run of women setting first-woman records. Rich Woman has followed [Japan's first woman prime minister](https://richwoman.co/article/the-drummer-who-became-japan-s-first-woman-pm), [Claudia Sheinbaum's election in Mexico](https://richwoman.co/article/making-history-claudia-sheinbaum-the-first-woman-president-in-mexico) and the [US states that could elect their first woman governor on 3rd November](https://richwoman.co/article/women-make-history-us-midterms-2026).