In Bulgaria, record low voter turnout triggers a November 1 presidential run-off in a poll colored by divisions over Ukraine war
0 / 30
English
中文
Low voter turnout has triggered a run-off for the Bulgarian presidency. The vote was colored by strong divisions over Russia's war in Ukraine, and Sofia's relations with the Kremlin.
（暂无翻译） （暂无翻译）
Record low turnout in Sunday's Bulgarian elections mean voters are expected to head to the polls on November 1 to cast ballots in a presidential run-off.
（暂无翻译）
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. and closed at 8 p.m. (0500-1800 GMT), with official results expected within 48 hours, but voter turnout was less than 40%, far short of the 50% required.
（暂无翻译）
Voters were choosing between candidates with vastly different views of the war in Ukraine and relations with Moscow and the vote came as drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea off the Bulgarian coast brought home the significance of the conflict in Ukraine for the former Soviet satellite state.
（暂无翻译）
Although the presidency is largely ceremonial, the head of state in Bulgaria can appoint interim governments during political crises, is commander-in-chief of the armed forces and is able to veto legislation.
（暂无翻译）
Frontrunner in the elections is incumbent President Iliana Yotova, who took over the position this year after current Prime Minister Rumen Radev stepped down to take part in the parliamentary elections that led him to power.
（暂无翻译）
Yotova, 62, who surveys show as having 41-47% of the vote, favors dialogue with Moscow as the way to bring peace to Ukraine and opposes military aid to Kyiv.
（暂无翻译）
A win for Yotova would give a boost for Radev, who also advocates dialogue with Moscow. Victory would make Yotova Bulgaria’s first elected female president.
（暂无翻译） （暂无翻译）
Her main challenger is Andrey Gyurov, a former caretaker prime minister, who is polling at 28-31%.
（暂无翻译）
Gyurov, 50, who is backed by the pro-Western opposition, is an outspoken critic of Radev's foreign policy and strongly supports the Euro-Atlantic ties of Bulgaria, a European Union and NATO member state. As caretaker prime minister, Gyurov signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv.
（暂无翻译） （暂无翻译）
The leader of the pro-Russian far-right Vazrazhdane party, Kostadin Kostadinov, is in third place on 10-13%.
（暂无翻译）
Altogether 27 pairs of candidates for president and vice president are competing in the first round, with nearly half of them openly pro-Kremlin.
（暂无翻译）
After casting her ballot in Sofia, Yotova called for peace, stability and unity, urging an end to divisions among Bulgarians. Her main challenger, Gyurov, voted in Blagoevgrad, calling for a Bulgaria that looks ahead and offers families greater economic security. Turnout was estimated at 15.1% by 3 p.m. local time (1300 GMT), according to polling agency Myara, Bulgarian media reported.
（暂无翻译） （暂无翻译） （暂无翻译）
To win outright, a candidate must secure more than half the valid votes, with more than half of eligible voters taking part. Otherwise, the top two candidates advance to a runoff on November 1.
（暂无翻译） （暂无翻译）
The war in Ukraine triggered by Russia's unprovoked invasion is one of the central themes in the election, particularly after four merchant ships were allegedly hit by drones off Bulgaria's coast this month in suspected spillover from the conflict. The attacks have prompted Bulgaria to seek assistance from its allies to strengthen maritime security.
（暂无翻译） （暂无翻译）
Satellite internet antennas from the Starlink network — an important part of Ukraine's defense capabilities — were also set on fire near the capital, Sofia.
（暂无翻译）
While Radev has said that the attacks seemed to be to the advantage of Russia and summoned the Russian ambassador, his government has declined to blame the incidents directly on Moscow.
（暂无翻译）
The strikes have nonetheless raised concerns over Russia’s intentions to escalate the conflict.
（暂无翻译）
Rising energy prices and inflation that have caused economic hardship to many in Bulgaria, the EU's poorest member state, are also a main issue addressed by candidates.
（暂无翻译）
Many voters are also looking to stop government corruption, a persistent concern in the country, and hope for a stable government after multiple elections and coalition breakdowns in recent years.
（暂无翻译）
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Tired of missing our real-time updates?
（暂无翻译）
Click here to add us as a Preferred Source on Google. Then tap the "Star" or "Preferred" to keep DW News at the top of your feed.
（暂无翻译） （暂无翻译）
仅供学习使用，如有侵权请联系删除 · 查看原文