Bulgaria's former ruling party GERB have requested to take part in an initiative annouced by the former opposition to peform a parallel count of the May 12 general elections.

"We too want free and fair elections and that is why we insist that we be included in the parallel counting," stated GERB chair and former Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov Tuesday.

Borisov explained that his party is not part of the initiative, as it has not been invited by other participants.

The parallel counting move was however motivated by fears voiced by other parties that GERB might exert its lasting influence over the executive to rig the elections.

The unprecedented decision unites traditional arch-rivals, and includes leftist and rightist, nationalist and liberal parties.

The self-styled election fairness coalition includes the Bulgarian Socialist Party, liberals Movement for Rights and Freedoms, nationalists Ataka, rightists Democrats for Strong Bulgaria, as well as the new liberal Bulgaria for Citizensparty.

They have hired a yet unnamed company from Austria to perform the logistics of the parallel counting.

Tuesday Borisov said that GERB is fully prepared to pay its due share in expenses related to hiring the firm.

"I hope for the assistance of Bulgarian Socialist Party leader Sergey Stanishev, for he can easily arrange our participation," said the GERB leader.

"I firmly state that GERB has always competed by the rules and has won elections thanks to those citizens who trust in us. That is the way we are competing in those elections, too," said Borisov.

The former Bulgarian PM further stated that he has full trust in the work of election authorities and the law enforcement, which according to him will ensure the holding of truly free and fair elections on May 12.

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