Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria

Pro-Russian presidential candidates in Bulgaria and Moldova have been elected for the top posts in the two separate elections held on Nov. 13, results showed. 

As Bulgaria's presidential candidates have been trading increasingly vicious blows bidding to become the next head of state on Sunday, an issue that long dominated the public debate has resurfaced: the division of "communists" and "anti-communists" in the public space.

The two remaining presidential contenders in Bulgaria will appear on a televised debate on Thursday evening, three days out of the presidential runoff.

There will be no ground for the government to backtrack on plans to step down if Tsetska Tsacheva loses the election, Bulgarian Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova has said.

Bachvarova has told NOVA TV that Tsacheva, backed by the main ruling GERB party and coalition partner Reformist Bloc, has a good chance to become the next President after the runoff vote.

The GERB candidiate who came second in Sunday's first round of Bulgaria's presidential election issued a stark warning on Monday about the future of democracy if her left-wing rival wins the second round run-off on November 13.

Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov said on Tuesday his institution would put forth all its effort into the campaign of Irina Bokova, the UNESCO Director General, to become the next UN Secretary General.

"We will do everything to contribute to the success of [her] candidacy," he told public broadcaster BNT in an interview.

Average voter activity in the run-off vote of Bulgaria's local elections was about 21.17% as of 13:00 EET on Sunday, election authorities have said.

This marks a sharp rise with the 8.7% nationally as of 10:00 EET, election authorities have said.

Socialist party spokesperson Atanas Merdzhanov has accused ruling GERB party of using its influence to manipulate results of local elections, as exit polls suggested a secure victory for incumbent Yordanka Fandakova.

Bulgaria's main ruling party GERB has announced the names it has endorsed to run for mayors of the country in the October 25 local elections.

Ivan Iskrov had been reelected on his position as a Chair of the Bulgarian National Bank under pressure during the first Boiko Borisov cabinet.

The statement was made by Former Finance Minister Simeon Djankov in an interview for bTV, who was in office at the time.