site.btaMariya Gabriel is GERB, UDF's Top Candidate for European Parliament Elections

March 31 (BTA) - Digital Economy and Society European
Commissioner Mariya Gabriel will be the top candidate of GERB
and the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF)
for the upcoming European Parliament elections. The two parties
presented their candidates here on Sunday.

The other leading candidates are current GERB/EPP MEPs Andrey
Kovachev, Andrey Novakov, Eva Maydell, and Assim Ademov,
followerd by UDF candidate Alexander Yordanov, Minister for the
Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council Liliana Pavlova, MEP Emil
 Radev, and MP Ivelina Vassileva.

The presentation was attended by Prime Minister and GERB leader
Boyko Borissov, UDF leader Roumen Hristov, and Sofia Mayor
Yordanka Fandakova, among other ministers, MPs and GERB members.

Commenting on the scandal involving government and Parliament
members, who purchased underpriced luxury apartments in Sofia,
Borissov said the party was badly hit and it depends on that
whether they treat it as a lesson learned. He forbade GERB
candidates to enter into disagreements and hate speech. "I want
us to step out as strong and united with a clear understanding
that it is our responsibility not to allow in the retrograde
powers," he said.

"The EP elections always ran with the slogan that Brussels is
far from Bulgaria and that we elect highly-paid officials,"
Borissov noted, adding that the Mobility Package saga did not
end in favour of Bulgaria, despite months of work, only because
two Bulgarian MEPs could not attend the meeting and lost their
votes.

He also commented that the election campaigns of other right
parties will be against the GERB-UDF coalition, rather than
against the Socialists. Borissov refused to comment on his
leftist opponents.

"I am optimistic for Bulgaria, because I know the nationalist
movements and their leaders; they are more like populists - they
 talk a lot, but when the time for European funds and payments
comes, they all want to remain in Europe," Borissov noted. He
also said he expects Bulgaria has yet to "pick the bitter fruit"
 from Brexit. RY/TH

/TH/