Pro-Russian Woman Elected President in Bulgaria... NATO's Unity Shaken

Bulgaria Has Pro-Russian Prime Minister and President
Opposes Aid to Ukraine, Calls for Easing Sanctions on Russia

AP-Yonhap News

Iliana Iotova, Bulgaria's pro-Russian acting president, won the presidential runoff. Concerns are growing that NATO's united front against Russia could be seriously shaken, as Bulgaria, a NATO member, now has pro-Russian politicians in both the presidency and the prime minister's office.

According to CNN on November 2 (local time), Iotova won the Bulgarian presidential runoff held the previous day with 57.58% of the vote. Her rival, former Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, who has pro-Western leanings, received just 39.47%.

The runoff was held the previous day after no candidate secured the majority needed to win in the first round on October 25. In Bulgaria's presidential election, more than half of the country's 6.6 million eligible voters must cast ballots, and a candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be declared the winner.

With the election result, Iotova became Bulgaria's first elected female president. She served as vice president for nine years and became acting president after then-President Rumen Radev resigned in January to run in the general election.

She was backed by Prime Minister Rumen Radev, who leads the pro-Russian Progressive Bulgaria Party. Her election is expected to usher in a more assertive pro-Russian policy in Bulgaria. Prime Minister Radev has advocated opposing military aid to Ukraine and easing sanctions against Russia.

Immediately after her victory was confirmed, President Iotova said she had spoken with Prime Minister Radev about national income and peace, among other matters, and thanked him for his support. Prime Minister Radev also said, "This election confirmed that the path we chose was the right one," adding that it was "an encouragement to pursue decisive and effective reforms."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.