(SOFIA) - The new right-wing party of popular Sofia mayor Boiko Borisov secured a close win in local elections against the ruling Socialists, official results showed Monday.

Borisov's Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party won mayoral seats in 10 out of Bulgaria's 27 major cities in the October 28 and November 4 polls, including Sofia and the second biggest city of Plovdiv.

Borisov was easily re-elected as Sofia mayor in the first round ballot on October 28 and GERB candidates secured 17 out of the 25 neighbourhood mayoral seats in the capital.

The ruling Socialists took control of five cities and also backed six winning independent or right-wing candidates, including the re-elected mayor of Bulgaria's third biggest city of Varna.

Traditional right-wing candidates won control of five cities, while the Turkish minority Movement for Rights and Freedoms party won re-election for its mayor in Kardzhali that has a majority population of ethnic Turks.

In the first-round battle for municipal councillors on October 28, GERB also garnered some 601,595 votes compared to 523,997 for the Socialist party.

But the Socialists gained more councillor seats, 1,265, to GERB's 1,011, as fewer votes were needed to gain a seat in smaller towns where the left is traditionally strong.

Text and Picture Copyright 2007 AFP. All other Copyright 2007 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.