Hans-Gert Poettering, President of the European Parliament, welcomed the new members of the EU assembly from Bulgaria, stressing that the elected 18 MEPs will be the voice of the Bulgarian citizens.

"The 18 Bulgarian members will be the voice of the Bulgarian citizens and will represent their interests in the European Parliament. As President of the European Parliament, I warmly welcome the new colleagues and wish them every success in the coming two years of the mandate," Poettering said in a statement, circulated to the media late on Sunday.

He expressed his hope that the new MEPs will soon be integrated in the work of the house and be able to contribute with their experience and knowledge for the benefit of their voters and the European project.

"I feel sure that their positive contribution will help to improve voter participation in future elections," the German conservative said.

At the beginning of the year Poettering, then chairman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament, made unsuccessful attempts to reunite and save the Bulgarian rightwing.

In Sunday's elections the right-wingers were delivered the last hours as it emerged that they may end up with just one seat in the best possible scenario.

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