Bulgarian President Georgy Parvanov won re-election over ultranationalist challenger Volen Siderov, the central electoral committee said yesterday.
It said a count of more than 98 percent of the ballots gave Parvanov 75.7 percent of the vote, while his rival scored 24.3 percent.
"This is an unprecedented, historic result," he said at a news conference.
"The result is a recognition of the policies we followed during our first five-year term," he said, adding that he would continue to be a president with "a clear social engagement at home."
Parvanov is the first Bulgarian president to be re-elected since the fall of communism in 1989, and is now all but certain to fulfill his dream of presiding over the entry of his Balkan nation into the EU on Jan. 1.
He promised to continue what he called an "active" and "consistent" foreign policy.
"It will be oriented towards securing a dignified European Union membership, and at the same time maintaining our national identity and working in solidarity with our European partners."
Parvanov, a former leader of the Socialist Party who prided himself in being "the president of all Bulgarians," won the first ballot last weekend with a commanding lead of 64 percent against Siderov's 21.5 percent but failed to avert a runoff as voter participation was below 50 percent.
No minimum turnout was required in the second round. The election committee said turnout by early Sunday evening was 41.2 percent.
Under Parvanov's leadership, Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004 and earlier this year received the green light to join the EU.
He also played a key role in the formation of the Socialist-led government after inconclusive general elections last year.
A proponent of ethnic tolerance, he developed good relations with the Turkish minority Movement for Rights and Freedoms party. He was fiercely attacked as a "Turkish puppet" by runner-up Siderov, known for his hostile statements against Bulgaria's Roma and Turkish minorities.
Siderov garnered support from many disillusioned Bulgarians, impoverished during the transition period from communism and apprehensive about the challenges of EU membership.
By simply gaining a berth in the final race, the former journalist changed the political landscape by ripping apart its traditional balance between moderate left and right-wing parties.
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