Outside Sofia's National Palace of Culture, NDK, it is the end of a balmy Sunday afternoon: skateboarders and strolling couples enjoying themselves in the warmth outside the massive landmark building. But inside, at the elections centre, a deceptive calm reigns as reaction is awaited from top politicians to the results of Bulgaria's July 5 2009 parliamentary elections.

No major politicians were in sight in the first hour after voting ended at 7pm and the first exit polls emerged, showing a triumph for Boiko Borissov's GERB.

The few exceptions were Yane Yanev, leader of Order Law and Justice who - accompanied by two young and imposing bodyguards - is hastening to tell everyone that his party is the second-largest centre-right force in Bulgaria.

Exit polls gave GERB results in the range from 39 to 41 per cent; the Blue Coalition from seven to eight per cent; Sova Harris put OLJ over the threshold at 4.6 per cent but Alfa research said that Yanev's party had not made it over the threshold into Parliament.

Roumen Ovcharov, leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party in Sofia, was much more reluctant to talk. Ambushed and pursued by journalists, Ovcharov - by then the only senior representative of the BSP, currently the majority partner in government but now pushed into second place by GERB -was best described at reticent.

Tsvetan Tsvetanov, chairman of GERB, made brief comments to journalists but then secluded himself. For GERB, when it comes to comments, top billing is sure to go its leader, Boiko Borissov.