Exit polls suggest incumbent Ilijana Yotova leads the Bulgarian presidential runoff with about 52% to 45% for Andrey Gyurov, potentially making her the first elected female head of state. The race is shaped by Ukraine war dynamics and Bulgaria’s role on NATO’s eastern flank, with Yotova advocating a peaceful resolution and Gyurov signaling closer Western alignment. The presidency in Bulgaria is largely ceremonial, with real power residing in parliament.