Bulgaria's first female president born... Pro-Russian policy elasticity (comprehensive)

(Rome = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kyung-rak Min = In the Bulgarian presidential election runoff election held on the 1st (local time), the current acting president, supported by the pro-Russian prime minister, defeated a pro-Western candidate and won.

According to Reuters on the 2nd, Acting President Ilyana Yotova recorded 57.58% of the votes based on a 99.95% vote count, confirming victory in the runoff election.

Former Prime Minister Andrei Gyurov, who is supported by pro-Western forces, received only 39.47% of the vote. He conceded defeat in a speech to supporters.

In the first round of voting on the 25th, a runoff election was held the day before as no candidate could secure the majority necessary for election. In the Bulgarian presidential election, a majority of the 6.6 million eligible voters must vote, and the winner must receive a majority of the votes.

Jotova became Bulgaria's first elected female president. He was vice president for nine years and took on the role of acting president in January after then-President Rumen Radev resigned to run for general elections.

New President Jotova, a former journalist and member of the European Parliament, received support from Progressive Bulgaria, a pro-Russian political party led by Prime Minister Radev. The election of President Yotova is expected to give strength to Prime Minister Radev's policies, such as opposing military support to Ukraine and easing sanctions against Russia.

Recently, as security concerns have increased, with merchant ships coming under drone attacks one after another on the Black Sea coast near Bulgaria, issues surrounding routes to Russia have divided the landscape of this presidential election.

President Yotova did not acknowledge Ukraine's claims that Russian drones attacked Black Sea merchant ships, citing a lack of evidence.

President Yotova expressed her gratitude for his support, saying that she spoke with Prime Minister Radev about national income and peace immediately after victory was confirmed.

Prime Minister Radev said, “This election confirms that the path we chose was correct,” and added, “It means encouraging us to pursue decisive and effective reforms.”

Former Prime Minister Gyurov, who lost the presidential election, has maintained a firm support for Ukraine. He argued that Bulgaria should have an independent voice in Europe and become a reliable North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally.

The term of office of the President of Bulgaria is five years and he can be reappointed once. Although it primarily performs a ceremonial role, it also has commander-in-chief of the military, the power to veto legislation, and the power to sign diplomatic treaties and appoint ambassadors.