November 21 (BTA) - Speaking to reporters after he cast his vote at the second round of the elections for president and vice president here on Sunday, GERB-UDF supported presidential candidate Prof Anastas Gerdjikov stressed the importance of going to the polls "for this is how we can restore confidence in institutions and stop division and tension in society". "I voted for the unity of the nation and to overcome all crises that have recently been multiplying at home, economic and foreign policy level," Gerdjikov said.

He called upon everyone to vote and expressed hope that the political, health and economic crises will be overcome so that Bulgarians would be "smiling and happy again".

Gerdjikov's running mate Nevyana Miteva said after casting her vote that she voted for a president who will abide by the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria, who respects and shares European values and international law.

GERB leader and former prime minister Boyko Borissov said he truly hopes that the Bulgarians "will show some sense today". Borissov said he voted "against police violence," referring to checks started on November 19 by police in three universities in Sofia. The Interior Ministry said that the reason for the checks are funds totalling 78 million leva allocated by the Council of Ministers to the three universities in 2020 and 2021 for renovating student dormitories.

Speaking to reporters after he cast his vote on Sunday, Borissov also said that GERB decided not to nominate its own candidate in the presidential race but to back Gerdjikov because the party wanted to see "personalities emerge whom the Bulgarians can rally behind, personalities that are capable of conducing a foreign policy of good neighbourliness". BR, ZH//