Citizens
for European Development of Bulgaria (Bulgarian: Граждани за европейско
развитие на България, Grazhdani za evropeysko razvitie na Balgariya),
abbreviated GERB (Bulgarian: ГЕРБ, the word "герб", which is
"ГЕРБ" spelled lowercase, meaning "coat of arms"), is a
Bulgarian centre-right political party established on March 13, 2006.
GERB is
headed by Boyko Borisov, a former Prime Minister of Bulgaria (see, for example,
the Novinite Bulgarian News website), former mayor of Sofia and former member
of the National Movement Simeon II. The establishment of the party followed the
creation of a non-profit organization with the acronym (in Bulgarian) GERB —
Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, earlier the same year. The name
of the party is not stated to be an acronym, but is spelled in all caps
nonetheless.
In early
January 2007, and early February 2007, it came second in public polls on party
support with around 14%, trailing the Bulgarian Socialist Party which had
around 25%. Its stated priorities are fighting crime and corruption, preserving
family as the cornerstone of society and achieving energy independence.
GERB won
the Bulgarian parliamentary elections on July 5, 2009. According to the
parallel vote counting, GERB had received 39.7% of the popular vote. After that
elections, it was formed a new government, led by Borisov, with a fully GERB
members composition.
GERB won
the 2009 European Parliament election in Bulgaria with 24.36% of the vote. The
party elected five MEPs and joined the European People's Party-European
Democrats Group in the European Parliament (in the EPP section). On June 6,
2007 GERB applied formally to join as a member-party the European People's
Party and joined EPP on February 7, 2008.
On
September 4, 2011, GERB announced its candidates for President and Vice
President of Bulgaria — Rosen Plevneliev and Margarita Popova, who won the
elections.
GERB won
the Bulgarian parliamentary elections on May 12, 2013, obtaining a plurality,
with 30.5% of the popular vote, and 97 MEP's elected, becoming the first
government party re-elected in the history of the post-communist Bulgaria.
However, designated to form a new government, Borisov refused the offer and
it's speculate that GERB will fall in the opposition.
(Wikipedia)
(Wikipedia)