Bulgarians vote in presidential run-off as Black Sea drone strikes heighten tensions

Bulgarians cast their ballots on Sunday in a presidential run-off shaped by mounting regional security threats and economic worries at home.

President Iliana Iotova, 61, finished ahead of former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, 50, in the first round, but she did not reach the 50 percent threshold required for an outright win. The opening round saw record low participation, with only 23 percent of eligible voters casting a ballot, according to election officials.

Exit polls are due to be released once voting ends at 8pm (18:00 GMT) on Sunday, and a result is expected on Monday.

The election is taking place against the backdrop of a series of drone attacks on merchant ships off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast over the past month. The strikes have drawn international condemnation and fueled concern about the widening reach of Russia's war on Ukraine.

About two dozen seafarers are feared dead in the attacks, and the government has turned to Bulgaria's allies for help in strengthening maritime security. On Wednesday, a Greek container ship sank after being struck by sea drones.

Both presidential candidates have condemned the strikes and have called for a diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine. Prime Minister Rumen Radev, who supports Iotova, said the outcome of the attacks "benefits the Russian Federation".

A win for Iotova would make her Bulgaria's first elected female president. She has served as acting president since January, after Radev resigned to enter and win a parliamentary race on what many political analysts considered a Kremlin-friendly ticket.

Gyurov, who led a caretaker government earlier this year, is backed by pro-Western, reformist parties and has long voiced support for Ukraine. During his time as premier, he signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv.

Gyurov has said he wants Bulgaria to be a reliable NATO ally that can stand up for its interests through strong diplomacy and a firm position. A number of right-leaning political figures, among them former Prime Minister Boiko Borisov, have declared their support for him.