Parliamentary elections in Romania: Social Democrats win, followed by the far right

The Social Democratic Party won the parliamentary elections in Romania, while the far-right Alliance for the Unification of Romanians came in second position.

After counting the votes at all polling stations across the country, the Social Democrats received 22.72% of the vote, and the far-right Alliance for the unity of Romanians – 18.13%.

At the same time, the National Liberal Party (PNL) received 14.43%, and the Union for the Salvation of Romania (USR) – 12.03%.

The legislative elections failed to “clarify” the political situation in the country. Romania receives a fragmented parliament that poses many risks and promises difficult negotiations to form a government.

The far-right, scattered across several formations that have in common their opposition to support for Ukraine in the name of “peace”, welcomed the results.

In addition to the AUR party in the second position, SOS Romania, led by the tempestuous pro-Kremlin candidate Diana Șoșoacă, the brand-new Youth Party (POT) entered Parliament with 7.3% and 5.9% of the vote, respectively.

Not since the fall of communism in 1989 has the country seen such a breakthrough, but the anger of many of its 19 million inhabitants is simmering in the face of economic hardship and war on the other side of the border. The strong rise of the far right, around a third of the electorate, testifies to the accumulated frustrations of society and economic discontent.

Several political leaders have already called for a resolutely pro-European “government of national unity.” “United, we can do wonders,” said the leader of the centrist USR (11.6%), Elena Lasconi, who last week qualified for the presidential run-off. She called for party quarrels to be set aside to defend “democracy” and Romania’s independence from Russia.

The elections took place in a febrile climate following the court’s decision to recount the ballot papers from the first round of the presidential elections, against a backdrop of suspicions about the integrity of the elections.

The authorities questioned Russian influence in the current regional context and the role of the TikTok platform.

Romania held presidential elections on November 24. After counting 100% of the votes, far-right pro-Russian politician Calin Georgescu, who does not belong to any party, and pro-European candidate Elena Lasconi from the liberal pro-European USR, advanced to the second round.

Gorgescu won 22.95% of the vote, while Lasconi received 19.17%. Romanian Prime Minister and Social Democratic Party leader Marcel Ciolacu came in third with 19.15%, losing to Lascona by only 2,180 votes. The second round of elections is scheduled for December 8.

On November 28, the Romanian Constitutional Court decided to recount all ballots from the first round of the presidential election due to complaints of fraud. In total, more than 9 million ballots are to be recounted. According to Romanian law, if the election results are annulled by the Constitutional Court, a new vote must be held on the second Sunday after the date of annulment.