Police, protesters clash in Bulgaria after elections

Partial results indicate that the leading GERB party has received 31.4 percent of the vote from the election of May 12.
 
On Sunday, over 200 protesters threw stones and torches at police in front of the National Palace of Culture in the capital, Sofia, following the closure of the polling stations.
 
The angry demonstrators chanted “Mafia!” against GERB, demanding an annulment of the election results.
 
Over the past few months, Bulgarians have held a string of protests against the low living standards and high utility bills. Some 22 percent of the country’s population of over seven million live under the official poverty line.
 
GERB leader and former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov resigned from office in February after seven people died of self-immolation during a series of protests against poverty and corruption.
 
Meanwhile, results for the other parties showed that the Socialists were in second place with 27.4 percent of the votes, the ethnic Turkish party MRF had 9.2 percent and the nationalist Attack party had 7.6 percent.
 
Socialist leader Sergei Stanishev said the party was ready to hold talks with the MRF, Attack and citizens’ organizations over the formation of a cabinet as the socialists believed that GERB would not be successful in forming a government.
 
    “We will take the responsibility to form a government. We will also talk with different citizens’ organization and help citizens control over institutions. I will make sure that talks with other parties and citizens’ organizations (are) held transparently,” Stanishev stated.
 
 
Commentators say the parties in the Bulgarian parliament may find it difficult to cooperate since the election campaign was marred by alleged scandals including wiretapping and illegal ballots.