Bulgaria Swears In New President

Plevneliev, who is the country's fourth democratically elected president, took the oath of office in the country's parliament on Thursday morning.

Vice-president Margarita Popova was also sworn in during the ceremony.

In a speech to MPs and state dignitaries, Plevneliev opened with an acknowledgment of the constitutional principle governing the head of state’s role – to be the president of all Bulgarians, irrespective of their religion, ethnicity and political affiliation.

After outlining his priorities as president, Plevneliev told the audience that his "cause is for Bulgaria to become a developed European country".

Outgoing President Georgi Parvanov, as well as government ministers, members of the Constitutional Court, foreign diplomats and senior state officials were all scheduled to attend the event. Patriarch Maxim, head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, was also invited.
 
On Sunday morning, meanwhile, central Sofia’s Alexander Nevsky Square is to be the scene of an inauguration ceremony, during which the outgoing and incoming presidents will make speeches and there will be a change-of-command ceremony of Bulgaria’s armed forces.
 
After Sunday's event, the new President and Vice President are scheduled to be escorted by their predecessors to the Presidency building at 2 Dondoukov Boulevard.
 
Rosen Plevneliev, nominated by the ruling GERB party, was declared victor of the presidential run-off in October 2011 after winning almost 53 per cent of the votes, about 5 per cent more than his Socialist opponent, Ivaylo Kalfin.