Romanians are heading to the polls in a parliamentary election following a surprising first round of the presidential election where right-wing candidate Calin Georgescu emerged as the front runner. The election on Sunday will determine the country’s new government, prime minister, and legislature, consisting of the lower house and senate.
The governing coalition of the Social Democratic Party and National Liberal Party is competing against the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians. Georgescu, who ran as an independent after leaving AUR, received 23 percent of the votes in the presidential first round.
His unexpected success raised concerns of interference, prompting a recount and a call for a rerun of the first round. With uncertainty surrounding the presidential election, voters are unsure if the outcome will stand and if the scheduled run-off between Georgescu and centrist Elena Lasconi will proceed.
The confusion has led to speculation of a shift towards more populist anti-establishment parties in Romania. High inflation, living costs, and economic sluggishness have created fertile ground for these voices. The presidential role holds significant decision-making powers, while the prime minister leads the government.
The Constitutional Court is set to make a decision on annuling the first round on Monday. The elections come at a critical time for Romania, with political dynamics potentially changing as voters express their discontent with the mainstream parties.
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