Bulgaria's presidential race goes to a run-off as turnout stays low

Bulgaria's presidential election will be decided in a run-off after voting on Sunday ended with low turnout and no candidate reaching the required threshold.

Exit polls put incumbent President Iliana Iotova in front with between 35 and 36.5 percent of the vote. Former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov placed second with between 31 and 33.5 percent. The two will face each other in a second round on November 1.

A run-off had been widely anticipated. To win outright in the first round, a candidate needs more than 50 percent of the vote, and turnout must also exceed 50 percent of registered voters. Twenty-seven candidates stood in the election in the NATO and European Union member state. Polling agency Measure reported turnout of 22.2 percent as of 8pm local time (18:00 GMT).

Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said the vote "took place peacefully, without the usual practices of vote buying and vote manipulation", according to Bulgarian National Television.

Rising energy costs, inflation, attacks in the Black Sea and Russia's war in Ukraine were the main issues ahead of the vote. A series of drone strikes on ships off the Bulgarian coast, which both leading candidates condemned, dominated headlines during the campaign.

Iotova, a leftist, is backed by Prime Minister Rumen Radev, whose Progressive Bulgaria party performed strongly in April's parliamentary elections. She became president in January after serving as vice president. A former member of the European Parliament and a journalist, she ran as an independent with the support of Progressive Bulgaria and the Socialist Party. If she wins, she is expected to keep Bulgaria aligned with Europe while calling for better relations with Russia.

After voting, Iotova said she wanted to tackle "the dire issue of poverty" as well as "inequalities and regional disputes", the AFP news agency reported. "I believe that there must be peace, stability, and security," she added.

Gyurov has the backing of the country's pro-Western opposition and, as prime minister, signed a security cooperation agreement with Ukraine. He said he wanted "a Bulgaria that looks forward, a country that is European, free, and proud". Speaking after the vote, he said Bulgaria must choose next week "between two personalities, two directions", and invited Iotova to a debate before the second round.

The presidency is largely ceremonial, but the office holder leads the armed forces, can veto legislation and can sign treaties.