Sofia, September 30 (BTA) - The Rector of the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, Prof. Anastas Gerdjikov, on Thursday told BTA that he had agreed to run for president as an independent candidate in the November 14 elections.

Gerdjikov added that he expects support from all parties and from all Bulgarian citizens.

Earlier in the day, it was rumoured that Gerdjikov's bid will be backed by the formerly ruling GERB Party. GERB have said that they would keep their presidential candidate secret for as long as possible in order to spare them a likely smear campaign.

Incumbent President Rumen Radev has also opted to have his re-election bid entered by a nomination committee.

Prof. Gerdjikov was elected Sofia University rector for a second term in November 2019. He served as a Deputy Minister of Education and Science in the Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Cabinet between 2001 and 2003. Mediapool.bg says that he was instrumental in the higher education reform under the Boyko Borissov Government (2017-2021) together with a Education Ministry team. LN/KK/LG//