BULGARIA: Three main contenders cast their votes in Bulgarian presidenital election
Record ID:
327605
BULGARIA: Three main contenders cast their votes in Bulgarian presidenital election
- Title: BULGARIA: Three main contenders cast their votes in Bulgarian presidenital election
- Date: 24th October 2011
- Summary: SOFIA, BULGARIA (OCTOBER 23, 2011) (REUTERS) ( ** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) EXTERIOR OF POLLING STATION ROSEN PLEVNELIEV, CONTENDER FOR PRESIDENCY FROM "GERB" RULING PARTY, PREPARING TO VOTE CAMERAS VARIOUS OF ROSEN PLEVNELIEV VOTING (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) ROSEN PLEVNELIEV, CONTENDER FOR PRESIDENCY FROM "GERB" RULING PARTY, SAYING "The foreign policy of Bulgaria should focus on economic relations. We should work and guarantee to the world, that "Made in Bulgaria" means quality. We will use the reputation and success of Bulgarians and build further." PLEVNELIEV SPEAKING TO JOURNALISTS PLEVNELIEV LEAVING EXTERIOR OF POLLING STATION MEGLENA KUNEVA, INDEPENDENT CONTENDER FOR PRESIDENCY, PREPARING TO VOTE HAND STAMPING PAPERS MEGLENA KUNEVA VOTING CAMERAMEN (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) MEGLENA KUNEVA, INDEPENDENT CONTENDER FOR PRESIDENCY, SAYING "I believe in you. I believe in people, who are sane, who can make their choice. I believe in all Bulgarians. These were my thoughts and feelings while I was casting my vote." KUNEVA TALKING TO JOURNALISTS
- Embargoed: 8th November 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Bulgaria, Bulgaria
- Country: Bulgaria
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA5HM6C2GD48M4HCAK9CO5QLYIZ
- Story Text: Ruling party candidate Rosen Plevneliev was set to lead in the first round of Bulgaria's presidential election on Sunday (October 23), but probably will need a run-off to secure the position after a campaign marred by protests and violence.
It will tighten the centre-right GERB's grip on power in the European Union's poorest country, though polls show its popularity has slid to about 30 percent, from some 40 percent when it took power in 2009.
Rallies against the Roma minority and corruption rocked Bulgaria's cities last month and a bomb last week blew up the car of a popular journalist, highlighting GERB Prime Minister Boiko Borisov's struggle to address unemployment, graft and the fragile position of ethnic minorities.
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is monitoring the election as there are some concerns over vote buying given Bulgaria's ranking as the EU's second most corrupt country.
Plevneliev has pledged to step up efforts to crack down on corruption and organised crime, improving public sector transparency and getting serious about seizing illegally obtained assets.
"The foreign policy of Bulgaria should focus on economic relations. We should work and guarantee to the world, that "Made in Bulgaria" means quality. We will use the reputation and success of Bulgarians and build further," Plevneliev said after casting his ballot.
Rather than pushing potentially unpopular reforms, Borisov is more likely to focus on sustaining tight fiscal discipline, which wins praise abroad but does little to improve the lot of Bulgarians, who have an average wage of 350 euros a month.
Any unhappiness with GERB has so far not translated into support for the nationalist Attack party, which came second in the 2006 presidential race, but is now languishing on just four percent in polls.
They show Plevneliev will probably need a second round to gain more than 50 percent of the vote, his most likely opponent being Socialist Ivailo Kalfin, a former foreign minister.
"I intent to win these elections and I expect Bulgarian voters to show that Bulgarians don"t need confrontation and division, but unity," Kalfin told journalists outside the polling station.
Former EU Commissioner Meglena Kuneva, an independent who is expected to gain support from voters dissatisfied with the political establishment, is in third place.
"I believe in you. I believe in people, who are sane, who can make their choice. I believe in all Bulgarians. These were my thoughts and feelings while I was casting my vote," Kuneva said.
Eighteen candidates run for president in the first round of the elections.
If no one receives more than 50 % of the valid votes, or if voter turnout is below 50%, the top two candidates will face each other in a runoff a week later.
The first indication of the results will be exit polls at about 1600 GMT and official results are expected on Monday (October 24) morning. Local elections will also be held on Sunday.
While the presidential role is largely ceremonial, a Plevneliev win -- replacing incumbent Socialist Georgi Parvanov -- would remove potential for a high-profile dissenting voice and the threat of vetoing legislation.
Borisov so far has failed to make the promised and much-needed reforms of healthcare, labour and public administration and analysts say he is unlikely to change tack, even with Plevneliev alongside, before 2013 general elections. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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