Bulgarians, Deep In Crisis, Elect President

Bulgarians voting in their second presidential election in seven years are faced with an economy in its worst crisis since 1989, when a revolution drove out the Communists.

Inflation is at more than 150 percent. Bulgaria’s currency - the lev - has devaluated by 70 percent since the start of 1996. Foreign investment has dried up. Privatization is stalled. And the state-controlled economy remains dominated by clunky, Soviet-era companies.

Residents grapple with bread and meat shortages, and with drastic rises in energy and fuel prices.

The personalities of the two leading candidates in today’s election are important. But it is hardly surprising that pollsters find the economy is the biggest concern to voters.

On the eve of the election, President Zhelyu Zhelev appeared on national television urging Bulgarians to vote - “overcoming apathy and disillusionment.”

Of 13 candidates running for president, only two have a serious chance of winning: Ivan Marazov, of the ruling Socialist Party, which is made up of former Communists; and Peter Stoyanov, the joint candidate of the anti-communist, opposition parties.

Opinion polls show Stoyanov ahead of Marazov but still short of an absolute majority. If no candidate musters the necessary 50 percent, a runoff election will be held between the top two vote-getters on Nov. 3.