Outgoing Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov announced last Thursday that he plans to withdraw completely from politics for at least a year.

Stoyanov was beaten by Bulgarian Socialist Party leader Georgi Purvanov in run-off presidential elections on November 18.

"My mandate ends on January 22 and I can't resign from it, but I tender today my resignation from Bulgarian politics," he told a press conference. "I take full responsibility for losing the election," he added.

Stoyanov said he would not be a candidate for any political party or other office "for at least a year, and perhaps for much longer.

"I was president of all Bulgarians for five years. I would like to remain like that in their memory," said Stoyanov, whose election loss was seen as the result of painful economic reforms, which have failed to improve ordinary Bulgarians' lives.

Stoyanov, while expressing best wishes to his successor, said a politician should only promise what he can achieve. "If in campaigning I had made more categorical promises to improve Bulgarians' lives, I would probably have won more support. But I have always known that one should only make promises, which one can fulfill," he said.

However, Stoyanov admitted he was ready to share the experience he has in the form of advice to parties or institutions of the state, if asked.

"I earnestly hope that the new president will continue Bulgaria's successful present policy," Stoyanov said. He expressed readiness to hold as many meetings with Purvanov as the incoming president would like, because Stoyanov was in favour of a civilized transition.

On the contrary, president-elect Georgi Purvanov claimed on Sunday that there was no continuity in the transition of power. "By appointing the Electronic Media Council, Petar Stoyanov made me accept a fact," Purvanov commented. Stoyanov appointed on Friday the members of the new council from the presidential quota. The president chooses five members of the nine-member council while the Parliament appoints the rest.

"Petar Stoyanov refused to consult me on this issue and I do not consider this a gesture of seeking continuity," Purvanov said. "I can work with many people including some of the newly appointed but it is important that the principle was violated and I cannot agree with this."