Monday November 12 8:24 AM ET

Monday November 12 8:24 AM ET

Runoff Vote Likely in Bulgaria

By VESELIN TOSHKOV, Associated Press Writer

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) - Bulgaria's president appeared headed into a run-off vote with the leader of the former communist party, according to unofficial results Monday from the country's presidential election.

President Petar Stoyanov and Georgi Parvanov, head of the Socialist Party, each obtained about 35 percent of the vote in Sunday's election, exit polls published Monday by the Sova Harris and Mediana institutes said.

Going into the vote, Stoyanov had been backed by Prime Minister Simeon Saxcoburggotski, Bulgaria's former king, who was swept into his office in June parliamentary elections.

The presidency is a purely symbolic position this Eastern European nation. But the closeness of Sunday's vote - and low turnout - suggested a weakening of the popularity of the prime minister, the former King Simeon II.

The prime minister won wide public support with his pledges for better living standards and radical moves against corruption. But with winter coming, anger is growing over higher electricity and home-heating bills.

The Central Election Commission said it would have official results on Wednesday. According to preliminary figures, it said, turnout for Sunday's presidential vote was 39 percent, the lowest for the past decade. In the first post-communist presidential elections in 1992 the turnout was 76 percent.

A candidate must receive more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round to prevent a run-off. A second round - which both candidates said Monday appeared likely - would be held Nov. 18.

Stoyanov expressed confidence in his victory in the run-off.

``I expect to rally to a much higher degree the sympathizers of the formations supporting us as well as independent voters and to win the elections in the second round of voting,'' he told a press conference.

Stoyanov, a 49-year-old lawyer who first won the post in 1996 as a candidate of the pro-Western Union of Democratic Forces, was running as an independent this time. Pre-election polls had predicted he would win around 50 percent of the vote.

The Socialists' Parvanov, 44, was a surprise opponent for the second round. Polls had predicted former Interior Minister Bogomil Bonev would be the nearest challenger.

``Those elections showed that people want change, they want a new president,'' Parvanov said.

Both candidates agree on the major issues, including the country's preparations for joining NATO and the European Union.

The presidency is a largely figurehead position, while the real power rests with the prime minister and parliament. Still, the presidency carries moral authority and legislative veto power.