With a national percentage of 21 per cent of the votes, Bulgarian Socialist Party was still the first political force, Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev said at a press conference on October 28 in a reaction to the first results of the municipal elections.

According to Stanishev, GERB received 17 per cent of the votes, while Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria received 14 per cent.

We achieved what we were aiming for, he said. "How many parties achieved such a result in elections the middle of a mandate," Stanishev asked.

Stanishev compared GERB's result in the elections to those of National Movement for Stability and Progress (NMSP) in the elections of 2001.

In Sofia, there has not been a real debate about the condition of the city, he added. BSP did not manage to raise the question in public debate, Stanishev said.

The elections were not over yet, Stanishev said. No one in BSP was agraid to take responsibility and the BSP would be a serious opponent in the municipal council in Sofia, he said.

When asked about his support of Brigo Asparouhov, Stanishev said that he was not disappointed in Asparouhov. Asparouhov had fought a difficult battle with one of the most popular politicians at the moment, Stanishev said, and now was not the moment to discuss support or other political issues.

Asparouhov said Sofians had made a mistake in these elections by electing Borissov, and they would soon find out.