Bulgaria President Faces Runoff Election

SOFIA, Bulgaria —  President Zhelyu Zhelev failed to win a clear majority as expected in the first round of Bulgaria’s presidential elections Sunday, according to unofficial results.

With his main rival backed by ex-Communists running surprisingly strongly in Bulgaria’s first-ever presidential election, Zhelev faced the prospect of a tight runoff battle in the second round next Sunday.

Latest figures showed that Zhelev, once a dissident and former leader of the opposition Union of Democratic Forces, had received between 43% and 45% of the vote, short of the 50% needed for outright victory.

His main rival Velko Valkanov, who is backed by the Socialist Party, formerly the Communist Party, got between 29% and 31%.

In third place with 17% of the vote was independent Georgy Petrushev, who also did much better than expected despite having no backing from major political groups.

The other 18 presidential candidates polled less than 8% between them.

Petrushev said he is not planning to advise his supporters how to vote next Sunday, but he predicted that Zhelev will win in a head-to-head contest with Valkanov.

More than 70% of the 6.3 million registered voters cast their ballot Sunday. Final results are expected by Wednesday.

Zhelev, 56, was appointed Bulgaria’s head of state in 1990. He had been expected to capture a clear first-round mandate from the people to continue in the job.

After adoption of a new constitution last year, the powers of Bulgaria’s president are largely ceremonial, but the head of state remains commander in chief of the armed forces.

The presidency in Bulgaria was monopolized for 18 years by the last Communist dictator, Todor Zhivkov. It was later held briefly by former Foreign Minister Petur Mladenov, who helped oust Zhivkov in 1989.