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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Bulgarian president faces run-off | Bulgarian president faces run-off |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Incumbent Georgi Parvanov has won the first round of Bulgaria's presidential election but faces a run-off because of low turnout, official results show. | |
| With almost all the ballots counted, the socialist leader has more than 60% of the vote, compared with ultra-nationalist Volen Siderov's 22%. | |
| But with turnout short of the 50% mark, the two men will run again next Sunday. | But with turnout short of the 50% mark, the two men will run again next Sunday. |
| If Mr Parvanov wins, he will be the first Bulgarian president to win a second term. | If Mr Parvanov wins, he will be the first Bulgarian president to win a second term. |
| "This is a good basis for achieving final victory in a week's time," he told journalists. | "This is a good basis for achieving final victory in a week's time," he told journalists. |
| "Support for us is support for our policy of unifying the nation," he said. | "Support for us is support for our policy of unifying the nation," he said. |
| Respected | Respected |
| The presidency is largely a figurehead position, as power lies with the prime minister. | The presidency is largely a figurehead position, as power lies with the prime minister. |
| But the 49-year-old historian is respected for his efforts to raise Bulgaria's international profile ahead of Nato and EU membership. | But the 49-year-old historian is respected for his efforts to raise Bulgaria's international profile ahead of Nato and EU membership. |
| Mr Siderov, 50, is a populist figure who has hit out at minority groups and attacked the government over privatisation deals. | Mr Siderov, 50, is a populist figure who has hit out at minority groups and attacked the government over privatisation deals. |
| The low turnout was blamed on poverty among large segments of the population and unhappiness over the government's economic and social reforms. | The low turnout was blamed on poverty among large segments of the population and unhappiness over the government's economic and social reforms. |
| These concerns have helped Mr Siderov and his nationalists, the BBC's Nick Thorpe says. | These concerns have helped Mr Siderov and his nationalists, the BBC's Nick Thorpe says. |
| But on paper at least Mr Parvanov looks set to win the election next Sunday, our correspondent adds. | But on paper at least Mr Parvanov looks set to win the election next Sunday, our correspondent adds. |
| Full official results from the first round should be released on Monday or Tuesday. | Full official results from the first round should be released on Monday or Tuesday. |