Bulgaria votes in presidential run-off

In the first round on October 25, Iotova came out on top with 34.76 per cent of the vote, just ahead of Gyurov with 31.95 per cent.

The election in the EU and NATO member country on the eastern flank of both blocs is overshadowed by the war in Ukraine. The Black Sea, which Bulgaria borders, is increasingly becoming a theatre of war because of drone attacks on merchant ships.

Starlink antennas have also been set on fire in Bulgaria. The satellite communications network plays an important role in Ukraine's defence against Russia's invasion.

The run-off is likely to decide whether Sofia relies more on a clear Western orientation, which Gyurov's candidacy suggests, or whether Iotova continues the restrained line of Prime Minister Rumen Radev in the presidential office.