RADEV WILL FACE TSACHEVA IN A RUN-OFF IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS - FIRST EXIT POLLS BY ALPHA RESEARCH

First exit polls by Alpha Research polling agency by 19:00h show that Rumen Radev, the candidate nominated by an initiative committee and backed by Bulgaria's opposition Socialist party, narrowly won the first round of the Presidential election in Bulgaria with 24.8%. The candidate of the main ruling party, the centre-right GERB Tsetska Tsacheva scored 23.5%.

Exit polls by Alpha Research showed third place going to Krasimir Karakachanov, the candidate of United Patriots electoral coalition, at 13.6%.

Fourth is the businessman Vesselin Mareshki at 8.3%, followed by the candidate of the minority coalition partner Reformist Bloc, Traicho Traikov, at 7.1%.

Sixth is the former Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski, backed by the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, at 6.9%, seventh is the socialists breakaway party ABC party’s candidate Ivaylo Kalfin at 3.8% and eighth is the candidate of Movement 21- National Movement for Stability and Progress joint ticket, Tatyana Doncheva at 2.1%.

The option “I do not support anyone” received 6.2% according to Alpha research exit polls.