The former Bulgarian air force chief of staff, Rumen Radev, won close to 60% of ballots in Bulgaria's presidential election on Sunday
The 53-year-old beat the personal nominee of centre-right Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, ex-parliament speaker Tsetska Tsacheva, who fell short with just over 35%.
"It's a victory for all Bulgarian people. Democracy has beaten apathy and fear today," Radev told state media on Sunday evening.
Radev's clear support for the lifting of EU sanctions on Russia over Ukraine and ambivalent statements about the EU and NATO have prompted analysts to speculate that he might pursue closer ties with Moscow.
Following the defeat of his center-right party's candidate in elections, Boiko Borisov said he will resign as promised.
