Exit polls show Iliana Yotova leading Bulgaria's presidential election, agencies report

Exit polls show Iliana Yotova leading Bulgaria's presidential election, according to Anadolu Agency and the Russian news agency TASS. The vote was held on or around 25 October 2026.

Both outlets reported the exit poll lead in headlines. Neither names the organisation that conducted the exit polls. It is therefore unclear whether the two outlets cite the same poll or separate polls.

Exit polls are not official results. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include preliminary or final results from Bulgaria's electoral authorities.

According to Anadolu, Yotova is Bulgaria's incumbent president. TASS describes the vote as the first round of the presidential election. That description points to a possible second round. However, the reports do not say whether Yotova is projected to win outright, whether a runoff is expected, or when one would take place.

Some reports spell the name "Iotova". This is a transliteration variant of the same name.

What the reports do not include

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi consist of headlines only. They do not include:

• vote shares, margins or exit poll sample details;
• the names of other candidates or who is in second place;
• turnout figures;
• official results from election authorities;
• statements from Yotova, rival candidates or election officials.

What is disputed

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe any dispute over the exit polls or the conduct of the vote.

What each side says

The reports do not include statements from any candidate, party or official.

Vocemundi will update this report as official results and further details become available.

Analysis

The available reports indicate a lead for Yotova but offer no figures. That limits what can be concluded. A lead in exit polls can differ from official results, and the size of the gap matters. If TASS's description of this as a first round is accurate, one scenario is a runoff between the top two candidates. Another is an outright win, if the rules allow it and the margin is large enough. The reports do not settle either possibility. Official results from Bulgaria's electoral authorities, and the identity of the pollsters, will be key to judging how reliable the early picture is.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.

Transparency note: objections from our AI reviewers

Objections raised before publication:

• Vocemundi automatic checks: Court rejected; support 0.172

No reviewer declined to review it.

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