Bulgarian PM resigns after presidential election result

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on Monday submitted his resignation to the parliament after his party's candidate, Tsetska Tsacheva, lost the presidential elections.

Borissov's resignation came a day after Rumen Radev, the candidate of the main opposition Socialist Party, won the second round of the presidential elections in Bulgaria over the Parliament Speaker Tsetska Tsacheva.

"We accept the will of the people and congratulate those who enjoy the support of most voters," Borissov said.

Prime minister's resignation will lead the state to snap elections after the new president dismisses the parliament and sets a date for early elections.

Radev, a former air force commander and retired general, won 58.1 percent of the vote on Sunday, becoming the president of the small Black Sea state.

Tsacheva garnered just 35.3 percent votes.

Even though the country is a member of NATO and the EU, many in Bulgaria still have a favorable view of ties with its traditional ally Russia.