Prime minister Rumen Radev has called on Bulgarians to vote freely, without fear or pressure, in the presidential run-off on 1 November. He spoke at the start of a cabinet meeting.

"I call on people, all Bulgarian citizens: don't be afraid, don't give in to pressure, vote according to your conscience and beliefs," Radev said.

He asked anyone who is preparing or planning to buy votes to stop. The interior ministry will act without compromise, but strictly within the law, the prime minister said.

The election must be open, fair and responsible, Radev said. Citizens must have the right to vote freely, he added.

The Central Election Commission decided that Iliana Yotova and Kiril Valchev will face Andrey Gyurov and Georgi Kandev in the run-off. In the first round on 25 October, Yotova and Valchev won 528,951 valid votes and Gyurov and Kandev won 486,232.

Of 6,584,025 voters, 1,525,034 cast a ballot.