Bulgarians went to the polls on Sunday to elect their next president, with the campaign dominated by economic hardship, rising prices and security concerns over drone attacks in Black Sea.

The election is also the first major test for Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s Moscow-friendly Progressive Bulgaria party since its victory in the parliamentary elections in April.

Despite a record 27 candidates in the race, the election is expected to go to a runoff between incumbent President Iliana Yotova, backed by Radev’s party, and former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, who has the support of pro-Western opposition parties.

Russia’s war in Ukraine and growing tensions in the Black Sea have been major campaign issues. Recent drone attacks on commercial vessels off Bulgaria’s coast have raised security concerns in the European Union and NATO member country.

The attacks have fuelled fears that Russia could escalate the conflict, prompting the Bulgarian government to seek assistance from its partners to strengthen maritime security.

Candidates have also addressed public concerns over rising energy prices and inflation, which have made it increasingly difficult for many families, particularly in rural areas, to cover their daily expenses.

Polling stations opened at 7am and are scheduled to close at 8pm. Initial exit polls will be released after voting ends, while preliminary results are expected on Monday.

A runoff is likely, as none of the 27 candidates is expected to secure an outright victory in Sunday's vote. More than 50% of the country's 6.6 million registered voters must turn out for a first-round victory to be possible, and a candidate must win a majority of votes.

Turnout is projected to remain below 40%, making a second round on Nov 1 likely.