European Union observers say they are satisfied with both the outcome and the conduct of Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Bulgaria. They say that apart from a few incidents of bribery, the elections were conducted honestly.

The centre right opposition, the Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria party, won the election with 40 percent of the votes. The party is led by the mayor of the capital Sofia, Boyko Borisov. In his election campaign, Mr Borisov emphasised the need to fight corruption and modernise the machinery of government. He said he also wants the country to switch to the euro as soon as possible.

The governing socialist party won only 18 percent of the votes. That is half what it won in the previous election.

Photo of Bulgarian flag by erjkprunczyk (flickr)