Key Russian papers have been busy speculating about the degree of aversion on the part of Bulgarian president-elect Rosen Plevneliev to joint Russian-Bulgarian energy projects.

Plevneliev won the run-off in the presidential race Sunday with 57.5% of the vote against Bulgarian Socialist Party's candidate Ivaylo Kalfin, and is set to replace current Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov in January 2012.

While Parvanov, himself a former leader of the Socialist Party, was viewed as strongly favorable of Russian energy projects, Russians fear that an perceived pro-Western orientation on the part of Plevneliev, who was the candidate of ruling Bulgarian center-right GERB party, might pose obstacles to those projects, such as the South Stream natural gas pipeline and the Belene NPP.

"Bulgarians have been quite worried about the creation of so-called 'rescue centers' by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations along the South Stream track," writes Izvestiya, quoting a key Russian analyst.

The 'rescue centers' have been perceived as virtually creating something similar to Russian military bases, since they will be subordinated to a quasi-militarized Ministry.

In all, papers mention that Bulgaria's GERB cabinet, led by PM Boyko Borisov, has consistently stated it wants to pursue strong economic relations with Russia, but only if that is to the best economic interests of both parties.

On its part, Rossiyskaya Gazeta writes that Rosen Plevneliev has committed to what he terms a "pragmatic" approach to relations with Russia, including both South Stream and Belene NPP, which the Borisov cabinet has been claiming is overpriced by Russian Atomstroyexport.

Both Rossiyskaya Gazeta and Kommersant comment that as a president, Plevneliev is likely to closely follow the policies of the cabinet, a perception widely shared in Bulgaria, where analysts have remarked that Plevneliev will remain highly dependent on Borisov.

"The power of Bulgaria's ruling party doubled after elections. Having his protege in the presidential seat, Bulgarian PM Borisov will have an even easier time controlling the country's foreign policy," writes Kommersant.

Pre-election, Kommersant entered in an intriguing dispute with GERB, after publishing materials claiming Russia is losing a friend after Parvanov's end of term, given that Plevneliev will be hostile to Russian interests in Bulgaria.

Plevneliev himself attempted to refute those allegations, reiterating his wish to continue "pragmatic" relations with Russia, and the GERB party issued an objection, saying their candidate was falsly presented by the Russian paper.

In an interesting aside, Kommersant mentions speculations about a possible "Putinization" of Bulgaria, given the perception that PM Borisov has put on the presidential chair a person who is going to be dependent on him, and might work to aid gaining a fresh prime-ministerial or presidential term in office in the years to come.