Sofia, November 21 (BTA) - Rumen Radev, who was re-elected for another five-year term on about 66 per cent of the vote in Sunday's presidential runoff, said: "The status quo failed to stage a comeback despite fake news and attempts to dissuade people from voting."

He offered thanks to the security forces, to all candidates for their ideas and contribution, and to all parties which supported the Radev-Iotova ticket.

Anastas Gerdjikov and Nevyana Miteva lost to Radev and Iliana Iotova on about 31 per cent of the vote according to parallel vote counts.

He said the new parliament had no right to make mistakes and procrastinate. On November 14, the Continue the Change party led by two former caretaker ministers, Kiril Petkov and Assen Vassilev, won 67 seats in the 240-seat Parliament.

"The new cabinet must not retreat from the foreign policy positions in defence of the rights of our compatriots [with a Bulgarian identity] in the Republic of North Macedonia," Radev said.

Bulgaria is emerging from stagnation and autocracy and is embarking on the road of development, the winning candidate said.

Petkov and Vassilev said on Facebook that 90 per cent of their supporter backed Radev. Their party is starting negotiations on cabinet formation with the Bulgarian Socialist Party, There Is Such a People and Democratic Bulgaria on November 23. RY/DD //