Political outsider Rumen Radev has won Bulgaria’s presidential run-off, inflicting a convincing defeat on the ruling party’s candidate.<br /><br /> Radev was backed by the opposition Socialist Party and is a Russia-friendly newcomer to politics, having been the former commander of Bulgaria’s Air Force.<br /><br /> Exit polls have him winning with just over 58% of the vote compared to around 35% for his opponent, Tsetska Tsacheva, the candidate of the ruling centre-right GERB party.<br /><br /> At a press conference Sunday evening Radev applauded those who had backed him:<br /><br /> “Today democracy in Bulgaria won over apathy and fear, despite the bluff of the government about an apocalypse, you voted for change.”<br /><br /> But Bulgaria is now facing months of political instability. The country’s centre-right Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has promised to quit sparking the likelihood of an early election followed by months of difficult coalition talks.<br /><br /> Borisov told reporters: “On the first working day of the parliament we will tender the government’s resignation.”<br /><br /> The election of Radev and his Russian sympathies is being seen a blow to Bulgaria’s western European allies<br />and underscores Moscow’s growing influence in southeastern Europe.<br /><br /> President-elect Radev has said he will keep Bulgaria in NATO but has affirmed that “being pro-European does not mean being anti-Russian”.<br /><br /> Although the position of president is largely ceremonial, he can sway public opinion and send legislation back to parliament.<br /><br /> Brexit ✓<br />USA ✓<br />Bulgaria ✓<br />Moldova ✓<br />Netherlands<br />Italy<br />France<br />Germany pic.twitter.com/C1Tj7jtqf4— Russian Market (@russian_market) November 13, 2016<br />
