European People’s Party (EPP) president Wilfried Martens has telephoned his congratulations to Boiko Borissov, leader of GERB, on his party’s victory in Bulgaria’s July 5 2009 parliamentary elections.
 
GERB, with the centre-right Blue Coalition, which includes EPP member parties the Union of Democratic Forces and Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria, are in talks to form a coalition government.
 
"I spoke late today with GERB leader Boiko Borissov and offered him my warmest congratulations for GERB's great election victory. Borissov showed great leadership during the campaign and the citizens have given him and his party their full trust. After a long period of bad Socialist governance in Bulgaria, the country will now have a strong and fresh centre-right government; an EPP government," Martens said in a statement released by the EPP.

"This will actually be the first government elected in Bulgaria after the country's accession to the European Union and will also be 14th EPP government in the EU.
 
"With the new GERB-led government, the EPP will now have the absolute majority of heads of state and government in the European Council, which is fantastic news for our political movement," Martens said.

The Secretary-General of the EPP, Antonio Lopez-Istúriz MEP, also expressed his warmest congratulations to Borissov and GERB: "After long and hard work from Boiko Borissov and the GERB, victory has finally arrived.
 
"I had the privilege to campaign in previous months with Borissov in Bulgaria and to spread the vision of GERB and the EPP around the country. I am very pleased that today the citizens have wholeheartedly put their trust in the hands of Boiko Borissov and GERB," Lopez-Istúriz said.