A survey conducted by INSOMAR gives PNL 32 percent. votes, and PSD – 28 percent. On the other hand, the exit poll conducted by Curs-Avantgarde indicates a minimal victory for PSD – 30.5%; PNL was to get 29 percent. votes, which in practice is supposed to mean a draw between these parties.
The third in the post-election polls is the centrist coalition of the Romanian Salvation Union (USR) and the Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party (PLUS), which gained 15.9 percent. votes. USR-PLUS are potential coalition partners of the pro-European PNL.
Although the election result remains unclear, Prime Minister Orban announced that his party had won. Although he made a reservation that “the result of the vote will be known only after the votes have been counted”, he also stressed that exit polls did not take into account voters living abroad, among whom over 200,000 were voters. cast votes.
Orban also announced that his party expects that the formation of a new ruling coalition will only be preceded by “short talks”, which will start on Monday, because “the country needs a new government as soon as possible.”
The formation of a coalition by Orban’s party and USR-Plus is supported by the president from PNL Romania Klaus Iohannis, who has repeatedly stated that he will not allow the PSD to return to power until the end of his second mandate. Iohannis’ term of office will end in 2024.
Reuters reports that even if PNL gets slightly less support in the elections than PSD, the current prime minister will receive a mission from the president to form a government. The reforms of Orban’s cabinet have so far been largely blocked by a parliament dominated by PSD, the agency reminds. During the election campaign, the current head of government promised to restore investor confidence in the Romanian economy, which was severely damaged by PSD’s populism.
More than 18 million Romanians were entitled to vote on Sunday, but both the coronavirus pandemic and the weariness of the political class meant that – according to the electoral commission – the turnout was only around 30%. and was the lowest since the fall of communism in this country. Official election results are expected on Monday morning.
Romania’s bicameral parliament has 465 seats. There are 329 deputies in the Chamber of Deputies, and 136 senators in the upper chamber. The election threshold in the proportional voting system is 5%. A special number of seats in the parliament has been reserved for representatives of Romanians living abroad and for national minorities. The term of office of the parliament is four years.
The previous elections in December 2016 were won by the PSD, which has dominated Romanian politics for the last 30 years, and comes from the Romanian Communist Party ruling the country before the revolution of 1989. The last PSD government resigned in November 2019 after the parliament passed a vote distrust. Since then, Romania has been ruled by Orban’s minority cabinet.
PSD was accused of breaking the rule of law, trying to subjugate the courts and corruption, which sparked massive protests and criticism from the European Union. Liviu Dragnea, leader of the party, is currently in prison, convicted of corruption.
