Interim results: Left ahead in Romania - ultra-right strong
In the parliamentary elections in Romania, the ultra-right has made significant gains after most polling stations have been counted, but the Social Democrats (PSD) remain the strongest force. According to the central electoral authority in Bucharest, the PSD achieved around 23% (2020: 29%) after the votes were counted in a good 97% of polling stations. The extreme right-wing party AUR achieved around 18 percent (around 9 percent). According to the interim results, five other parties have made it into parliament. Difficult coalition negotiations are expected over the next few days. It is not clear which alliances could be possible.
02.12.2024, 04:30
02.12.2024, 04:31
SDA
According to observers, the result of the parliamentary election is also likely to have an impact on a possible run-off election for the office of president. According to observers, the chances of the far-right and pro-Kremlin presidential candidate Calin Georgescu against the western-oriented presidential candidate Elena Lasconi would increase if the interim result is confirmed after all votes have been counted. The Constitutional Court in Bucharest will decide today whether and when this run-off election will take place, as the first round of voting on November 24 was contested.
Last week, the Constitutional Court ordered a recount of all ballot papers from the first round of the presidential election after a losing candidate contested it. Once the new count results have been submitted, the court will decide whether to recognize or annul the first round of voting.
According to the interim results, the conservative PNL party is in third place with around 14% of the vote, followed by the conservative-liberal reform party USR with almost 12%. The Hungarian party UDMR came fifth with around 7 percent. Two new extreme right-wing parties have also made it into parliament: S.O.S. Romania with around 7 percent and POT with almost 6 percent. They are even further to the right than AUR. All western-oriented parties have ruled out a coalition with AUR.
Three ultra-right parties - probably united for Georgescu
Observers assume that the success of Georgescu, a friend of the Kremlin, in the first round of the presidential election has strengthened his friends in parliament. Georgescu could now benefit from this effect in turn - although the three ultra-right parties are competing with each other. The extremist came first in the first round of the election, while Lasconi came second.
