Pro-Russian politician wins first round of Bulgaria election
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Former head of the Bulgarian air force Rumen Radev, candidate of the opposition Socialists, speaks to the media
Bulgaria’s opposition candidate, Rumen Radev, who has urged the European Union to lift sanctions against Russia, has won the first round of the country’s presidential election.
Radev from the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) won 25.7 percent of the vote while Tsetska Tsacheva from the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) scored only 22 percent, official results showed.
The country's presidential election will go to a run-off on November 13 as neither of the two secured an overall majority.
Bulgaria's presidency is a largely ceremonial post, but the president is still a respected figure with some powers such as influencing policy, vetoing legislation and signing international treaties.
According to the results, the 53-year-old Radev’s chances to win in the run-off are high, a result that could repair Bulgaria’s relations with Russia.
Bulgaria, once a loyal Russian ally, had been tilting away from Moscow and closer to the West under the incumbent government. It became a NATO member in 2004.
This is while Bulgaria is almost entirely dependent on Russia for energy supplies, and many Bulgarians feel culturally attached to their Black Sea neighbor.
Radev, who has called for an end to EU sanctions imposed against Russia over Ukraine, vowed to comply with Bulgaria's European obligations if he is elected, noting that "being pro-European does not mean being anti-Russian."
EA
