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Bulgaria president poll under way Bulgarians vote for a president
(about 1 hour later)
The polls have opened open in Bulgaria in the country's presidential election. Bulgarians are going to the polls to elect a president for a five-year term.
President Georgi Parvanov is expected to win a second five-year term, but will probably face a run-off. Incumbent Georgi Parvanov - who negotiated Bulgaria's entry into the EU - is facing a growing challenge from far-right candidate Volen Siderov.
Opinion polls suggest Mr Parvanov could win 50% of the vote, but the predicted turnout is way below the required half of the electorate for outright victory. Mr Parvanov is said to be favourite to retain his post, but his supporters fear he may not win enough votes to avoid a run-off ballot next Sunday.
In a second round, he is likely to face Volen Siderov, leader of the nationalist Ataka party, who according to the polls is in second place. Mr Siderov, a flamboyant former TV host, has verbally attacked Bulgaria's Turkish and Roman minorities.
Mr Parvanov's other main rival is Nedelcho Beronov, former chairman of the constitutional court and presidential candidate of the centre-right. The BBC's Oana Lungescu says he has also capitalised on public anger with conventional politicians for their perceived failure to tackle poverty, corruption and organised crime.
Although Bulgaria elects its president by direct vote, most power rests with the prime minister and parliament. Despite strong economic growth, Bulgaria will become the EU's poorest country once it joins, with half of its eight million people living under the poverty threshold.
The president, however, has veto powers and can send bills back to parliament. He is also head of the armed forces and represents the country abroad. The third main candidate, running for a group of centre-right parties, is a former judge in his 70s, Nedelcho Beronov.
Secret police Low turnout expected
Mr Parvanov, who was elected president in 2001, is a former socialist leader. Mr Parvanov, who is backed by the ruling socialist party, is credited with forming the centre-left coalition that has spearheaded Bulgaria's efforts to join the EU.
He played a major role in reforming his party following the severe economic crisis and hyperinflation in 1996, which forced the then socialist government to resign. A former historian, he has reshaped the hard-line communist party into the pro-Western socialists, ensured that Bulgaria joined Nato in 2004, and is on track to become a member of the EU next January.
Earlier this year, Mr Parvanov admitted that he had worked with the former secret police, although he himself had never been an agent. Our correspondent says he remains one of Bulgaria's most popular politicians, but is facing a stronger challenge than expected from Mr Siderov, who has been compared to the French ultra-nationalist Jean-Marie Le Pen.
He has been a strong supporter of Bulgaria's EU membership bid. The country is set to join the EU on 1 January 2007. She adds that with turnout expected to be low, the result is hard to predict.
Last year, Mr Parvanov helped in the formation of the socialist-led governing coalition after inconclusive general elections. The role of the Bulgarian president is largely ceremonial, although he heads the army and can veto any bill.
The prolonged negotiations threatened to delay key reforms and postpone Bulgaria's EU accession. The support of half of the electorate in the first round of voting is required for outright victory.