Bulgaria's Ruling Party Candidate Unlikely to Win Presidential Election Runoff - Poll

File photo, BGNES

Bulgarian main ruling party's candidate Tsetska Tsacheva is set to lose to any of the two predicted frontrunners, a new survey has suggested.

Tsetska Tsacheva, the Parliament Speaker nominated by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, would come second to socialist-backed candidate Rumen Radev and nationalist-backed candidate Krasimir Karakachanov, whoever of them makes it to the second round, a Market Links poll suggests.

According to the survey commissioned by private broadcaster bTV conducted last week, Radev. endorsed by the Bulgarian Socialist Party BSP, would get 30.7% if he reaches the runoff, compared to 25% who would back Tsacheva (the result does not amount to 100% as the option "I Do Not Support Anyone" has been introduced to voting rules).

Krasimir Karakachanov, the candidate of a nationalist alliance, would garner 28.50% of the vote, compared to Tsacheva's projected support of 24%.

In the event of Radev and Karakachanov making it to a runoff, the former would win a tight race by mustering 27.2%, and Karakachanov 26.1%.

Prime Minister Borisov has said he will resign if GERB's candidate loses the elections.

Market Links is an agency formerly owned by Rumyana Bachvarova, now Interior Miniser. It was the pollster that first predicted GERB's major election victory in 2009.

Surprisingly, the poll also gives the fourth place to Varba-based pharmaceutics businessman Veselin Mareshki in the first round. Mareshki, 4.30%, is expected to trail behind Tsacheva (below 19.4%), Radev (18.1%) and Karakachanov (8.5%).

Market Links also projects a record high turnout - 71.8%.

Presidential elections are due on November 06.

 

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