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Rosen Plevneliev, former entrepreneur and construction minister, had secured presidency after old-guard socialist candidate conceded, according to the Guardian. Photo by BGNES
From The Guardian
A former entrepreneur has emerged as the clear winner in the run-off election for Bulgaria's presidency, after exit polls indicated he had won and his socialist challenger conceded defeat.
Rosen Plevneliev's victory means the ruling party, Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, known as GERB, now controls all the major posts, and has bolstered its push for painful economic reforms in a country where the average monthly salary is ?426, unemployment is 11.7%, and levels of corruption remain high.
Three exit polls gave Plevneliev around 54.8% of the votes, while indicating 45.2% of voters cast ballots for Ivaylo Kalfin. The central election commission estimated turnout at 42%.
Official results are due on Monday, but Kalfin conceded defeat after the exit polling. "The result is clear; we did not win the elections," he said.
Although most of the power in the Balkan country of 7.4 million rests with the prime minister and parliament, the president leads the armed forces and can veto legislation and sign international treaties.
Plevneliev, 47,has been lauded for pushing through several large-scale infrastructure projects as regional development minister in the incumbent cabinet. He has pledged to reduce the budget deficit and pursue business-friendly policies.
He also said he would do his best to unite Bulgarians in pursuit of reforms in justice and health care, while also diversifying energy supplies and improving trade.
"Bulgaria's European future means that the president should guarantee equal chances for the development of all regions in the country," Plevneliev said on Sunday.
Prime minister Boiko Borisov said that by electing Plevneliev, "Bulgarians supported Bulgaria's stability and its European development."
The winner replaces Georgi Parvanov, a former leader of the Socialist party, who has often criticized the government and used his powers to veto legislation or judicial office or diplomatic service appointments. Parvanov has served two five-year terms, the legal limit.
If final results confirm Plevneliev, he would take office on January 23.
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GERB is set to hold a reporting and election national assembly on March 22 in Sofia, marking the start of the campaign for the early parliamentary elections scheduled for April 19
On Monday, Delyan Dobrev, chair of the parliamentary Budget and Finance Committee, former minister and long-standing figure in GERB, is expected to submit a request to withdraw both from the party’s Executive Committee and from parliament
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Bulgarians have benefited a lot from their EU membership, with incomes rising and Brussels overseeing politicians, according to a New York Times piece.
German businesses prefer to trade with Bulgaria rather than invest into the country, an article on DW Bulgaria's website argues.
The truth about Bulgaria and Moldova's presidential elections is "more complicated" and should not be reduced to pro-Russian candidates winning, the Economist says.
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