The left-leaning Social Democratic Party (SDP) is expected to remain the majority party in Romania’s parliament following general elections, although the far-right Alliance for Uniting Romanians has made significant gains. With 24 percent of the vote, the SDP will face opposition from the Alliance, which secured about 18 percent of the vote. The National Liberal Party and the reformist Save Romania Union also received significant support.
The election saw the highest voter turnout in 20 years, with over 52.3 percent of eligible voters casting their ballots. Final results are pending the counting of votes from Romanians living abroad, who are expected to support conservative parties. The rise of ultra-nationalist and anti-establishment parties poses a challenge to Romania’s pro-European Union and pro-Ukraine positions under the current governing coalition.
The election campaign also highlighted issues such as Romania’s high deficit and its role in supporting Ukraine against Russia. Hard-right populist Calin Georgescu’s unexpected success in the presidential race has raised concerns, as he has praised past fascist leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Georgescu’s use of TikTok to connect with voters has been effective, but his campaign has come under scrutiny for possible bot activity.
The upcoming second round of voting between Georgescu and left-leaning reformist Elena Lasconi will be crucial in determining the future direction of Romania. Lasconi has warned against returning to a Russian sphere of influence, emphasizing the importance of preserving Romania’s young democracy. The election results suggest a shift in Romanian politics towards more nationalist and conservative ideologies.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
Romania’s governing party expected to secure victory in elections despite rise of far-right.
