Bulgaria's Central Election Committee will boost its numbers to 25 members for the upcoming elections for MEPs, it emerged on Tuesday.

The proposal for the inclusion of another four members in the election body came from the socialists, who argue this would only strengthen the presence of the opposition.

Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvanov launched on Tuesday talks with the parliament's parties for the appointment of a Central Election Committee for the MEPs vote. During the talks, the head of state discussed with the leaders of the seven parliamentarily represented groups the Committee's members.

The Socialists have put forward the candidacy of Svetla Dimitrova, a judge at the Supreme Cassation Court and non-party member, for chair of the committee.

Last week the socialists announced they proposed nine of their representatives for CEC members.

The centrist Simeon II National Movement party went to the talks with six persons in mind for the posts. The party withdrew one of its nominations. They proposed Tsvetozariya Kateva to replace Dimitar Radev as he is to go on a business trip.

The ethnic Turkish party has prepared four of its members. They proposed Mustafa Karaday for a committie's secretary as he has an experience for taking the same position during the previous parliamentary and presidential elections.

The Union of Democratic Forces proposed the lawyers Elena Markova and Kalin Raymundov.

Democrats for Strong Bulgaria joined with two people for the post. These are the lawyer Miguela Grigorova and the mathematician Ilarion Ilarionov.

The two nationalist parties - Bulgarian National Union and Ataka (Attack) - proposed one person each.

Later in the day the President Parvanov announced he approved all nominations.

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