21/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Sunday, the Bulgarians elected their 18 members of the European Parliament, which will sit at the European Parliament for two and a half years, or until the next European elections of June 2009. According to the results published on Monday, the GERB Party of the Mayor of Sofia took the lead with 21.69% of the votes and five seats at the European Parliament, slightly ahead of the Socialists (PSB), who received 21.41% of the votes cast and also five seats. The Rights and Liberties Movement, the party of the Turkish minority within the coalition government, got 20.26%, which gives them five seats also. Ataka, the nationalist party, may end up with two or three seats, but the MNS of Simeon II is by no means certain of keeping his seat. The definitive allocation of the seats will be announced by Wednesday. The turnout rate was very low (26%). Romania, the other country which joined the European Union in January 2007, will elect its MEPs in the autumn. (hb)