Bulgaria Presidential Election Heads to Runoff, Exit Poll Shows

The near-parity between the incumbent and a former caretaker premier signals a genuinely contested runoff rather than a formality, and the low turnout suggests neither camp has broad enthusiasm behind it. The result matters beyond Bulgaria's borders because presidential contests there have repeatedly fed into government formation and early elections, so the runoff outcome could shape the country's near-term political stability. Whether turnout rises in the second round, and how the eliminated candidates' supporters split, is the open question worth watching.