Oresharski

As Bulgarians are heading to the polls on Sunday, they will vote for President based on what they saw and heard in five weeks of campaigning.

Support from parties and candidates who fared well in the election's first round, however, may also play a part in this decision as some of these have endorsed or indicated preference for either of the candidates.

Bulgaria proved in 2015 that it is defending its national interest in spite of "activization of terrorist activity, increased migratory pressure and hybrid influence of third countries", Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov said Thursday.

His comment was a clear reference to the notion of "hybrid war" which some Bulgarian politicians accuse Russia of waging in Eastern Europe.

Most of Bulgaria's outgoing ministers have assessed their work in office as "positive" and have voiced warnings the next government would face a number of issues.

Economy Minister Dragomir Stoynev commended the government for having created 40 000 jobs in 2014's first three months.

Bulgarian prime minister resigns

SOFIA -- Bulgaria's Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski has resigned, according to the press service of the Bulgarian parliament.

Oresharski stepped down after just 13 months in office, "after the ruling Bulgarian Socialist achieved very poor results in elections for the European Parliament in May," said reports.

Lawmakers overwhelmingly backed Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oreshaski's resignation submitted on Wednesday evening.

With a huge majority of 180-8 (8 abstained), they gave green light to the move submitted by Oresharski on Wednesday afternoon.

Prime Minister Oresharski has said he is to pick a "moment" at the end of the month to step down.

While in Parliament, he has also added he would quit politics.

"The only thing that worries me is whether there will be a quorum when I hand my resignation," website Dariknews.bg quotes him as saying.

Prime Minister Oresharski has assured Kenneth Hyatt, Deputy Undersecretary for International Trade at the US Department of Commerce that US investments are important for Bulgaria.

Oresharski and Hyatt discussed opportunities for intensifying trade an investments between Bulgaria and the US at a meeting on Monday at the government's headquarters in Sofia.

Bulgarian Parliament Speaker Mihail Mikov argued Prime Minister Oresharski had been misinterpreted when speaking about South Stream.

Mikov told the Bulgarian National Radio the construction of the pipeline had not been halted. He added that Plamen Oresharski could not have stopped the project, as he does not possess the competences to do so with a private company like South Stream.

A report of Prime Minister Oresharski on the first year in office of the socialist-led government boasts financial and economic stability, higher incomes, and lower unemployment.

Oresharski was to present the report on Friday in Parliament but the presentation was eventually postponed, according to dnevnil.bg.

EC President Barroso has told Prime Minister Oresharski that the EC will take action against Bulgaria due to non-observance of EU rules in the South Stream agreements.