GERB to Seek Support from Reformist Bloc, Patriotic Front

Bulgaria's GERB party will seek backing from the Reformist Bloc and possibly the nationalist Patriotic Front to form a governing coalition, a leading GERB member said on Monday.

"We must seek support for our centre-right programme," GERB executive committee member Rumyana Bachvarova told Nova TV station.

"We'll announce our main priorities and positions from which we can't retreat. Then, we'll try to seek support for our main political arguments and (see) at what cost we can receive it."

"It is a matter of informal talks until we are handed the mandate (to form a cabinet)."

The centre-right GERB led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov won most votes in Sunday's early parliamentary elections but remained short of absolute majority.

According to partial results based on 97% of votes counted GERB had 32.7% support, followed by the left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) with 15.3% and the liberal Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) with 14.8%.

A total of eight parties are expected to enter Bulgaria's 43rd Parliament, including the right-wing Reformist Bloc, which won about 8.9% of the vote, and the Patriotic Front with 7.3%.

According to Bachvarova, GERB is firmly opoposed to governing together with DPS and Bulgaria without Censorship party led by former journalist-turned-politician Nikolay Barekov.

"BSP is our main political opponent," she added.