Presidential candidate Andrey Gyurov has accepted the result of the runoff. "We accept the results as we saw them, however surprising they may be," he said in a statement.

On Wednesday, prime minister Rumen Radev called on people to vote freely, without fear or pressure, in the 1 November runoff.

What happened before: Radev calls for a vote without fear or pressure in the 1 November runoff

Gyurov thanked everyone who voted, both those who backed him and those who chose other candidates. He thanked his family for their strong support, the initiative committee, and Georgi Kandev, who backed him. He also thanked the parties that stood behind him for their help.

Gyurov said those parties backed a campaign that sought wider support and wanted to reach citizens regardless of their political leanings.

He said the state must be held to account, because its job is to serve Bulgarian citizens, not itself. "We are ready to show that the campaign ends, but responsibility does not end," Gyurov said.