
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, June 11, 1990                   TAG: 9006110049
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: associated press
DATELINE: SOFIA, BULGARIA                                LENGTH: Short

TRADITIONALISTS LEAD IN BULGARIA

The ruling Socialist Party, formerly the Communist Party, held a commanding lead over the opposition in initial projections of Sunday's voting in Bulgaria's first free elections in 58 years.

The winner in the balloting will set the tone for what is expected to be a coalition government.

The ruling Socialist Party, formerly the Communist Party and once Moscow's most loyal follower, favors slow economic reforms. The main opposition alliance, the Union of Democratic Forces, wants a swift move to a Western-style market economy.

Reform Communist leaders such as President Petar Mladenov and Defense Minister Dobri Dzhurov enjoy considerable popularity after ousting longtime dictator Todor Zhivkov in November.

by CNB