GERB

'' I think the argument is not about which aircraft is technically more suitable and better for Bulgaria, I think it is a political argument'', the leader of Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Kornelia Ninova, told BTV.

According to her words, this is an attempt to undermine the role of the Presidential institution and lessen the authority of Rumen Radev.

Although Boyko Borissov's centre-right GERB party holds the greatest number of seats in the new Bulgarian parliament - 95 - another "party" might be said to have secured an absolute majority for the next four years, namely newcomers.

Bulgaria's centre-right GERB party, which came first in general elections held on March 26, and the Bulgarian Socialist Party, which finished second, will meet to discuss the priorities of Bulgaria's six-month presidency of the European Council, starting on January 1, 2018, GERB's press office confirmed to BIRN.

''It is unacceptable to corrupt the election process this way. Therefore, adequate measures have to be undertaken. If necessary, the polling stations outside the consulates and the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Turkey must be closed'', said Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Deputy Chairman of GERB on Nova TV.

The distance between the candidates for president of GERB and BSP is closing. 31.4 % of voters would vote for Tsetska Tsacheva, while 27% would vote for Rumen Radev, showed a nationally representative survey of Mediana agency.

The restriction for the opening of up to 35 electoral sections will be abolished for EU member-states but it will remain valid for the rest of the world, decided deputies in the legal commission who discussed at first reading the 12 draft bills for amendments to the Electoral Code.

17 days remain until the presidential elections.

The Vice Chairman of GERB and leader of the parliamentary group  of the party, Tsvetan Tsevatanov has called on the Reformist Bloc to withdraw Sofia District Governor Veselin Penev because of the Tsarski konyushni (Royal stables) deal. Tsvetanov made a statement to the media in Parliament, together with the chief of the legal commission, Danail Kirilov.

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov on Sunday vowed zero tolerance to corruption among officials from GERB party, the dominant partner in the government coalition.

Bulgaria's centre-right GERB party hopes to sign an update to its coalition government agreement with junior partner the Reformist Bloc (RB) by January 25 to confirm commitment to reforms in key sectors, the head of GERB MPs Tsvetan Tsvetanov has said.

Bulgaria's former Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev holds no ambitions of returning to the leadership of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP).

Stanishev, who is currently one of Bulgaria's 17 Members of the European Parliament (MEP), will focus on his leadership of the Party of European Socialists (PES).