pro-EU social democrats lead legislative elections, far right in force

The pro-European social democrats came first in the legislative elections in Romania, Sunday 1^is December, but the far right confirms its strong breakthrough, plunging this neighboring state of Ukraine, a member of the EU and NATO, into uncertainty.

The PSD – which until now governed with the Liberals – collected 23.5% of the votes, ahead of the other parties, according to partial results relating to the counting of more than 96% of the ballots. However, all far-right forces combined are at over 30%, triple the previous 2020 poll.

In an unprecedented sequence, these elections come a week after the surprise success of far-right candidate Calin Georgescu in the first round of the presidential election, a result which aroused fears in the west of the continent about Romania's strategic positioning.

If the social democratic Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, eliminated last Sunday from the race for the presidency, was pleased with the first place of his party, he took note of the push of the nationalists. “The Romanians have sent an important signal to the political class”he reacted: continue on the European path “but also protect our identity and our national values”.

The extreme right, scattered between several groups which have in common to oppose support for kyiv in the name of ” peace “ and to defend “Christian values”welcomed these results.

“Today the Romanian people voted for the sovereignist forces”declared the leader of the AUR (Alliance for the Unity of Romanians) party, George Simion, who obtained 17.9% of the votes. “This is the beginning of a new era where Romanians reclaim the right to decide their own destiny”he added, while the participation rate had reached its highest level in two decades (52%) for legislative elections.

In the same camp, SOS Romania, led by the tempestuous pro-Kremlin candidate Diana Sosoaca, and the brand new Youth Party (POT) entered Parliament with 7.3% and 5.9% of the votes respectively.

Calls for a pro-EU “national unity government”

Since the fall of communism in 1989, the country has never experienced such a breakthrough, but the anger of a large part of the 19 million inhabitants simmers at the economic difficulties and the war on the other side of the border.

However, due to a lack of allies, the far right's accession to power is far from guaranteed. Already, several political leaders have launched calls for “a government of national unity” resolutely pro-European.

“United, we can do wonders”launched the leader of the centrists of the USR (11.6%), Elena Lasconi, who qualified last week for the second round of the presidential election. “After these nightmare days”she called for putting aside party quarrels to defend “democracy” and the independence of Romania from Russia.

The elections took place in a feverish climate after the court's decision to recount the ballots from the first round of the presidential election amid suspicions about the integrity of the elections.

The authorities have questioned Russian influence in the current regional context and the role of the TikTok platform, to the point that the Constitutional Court has ordered a new count and must rule on Monday. If the vote is not canceled, the second round will take place on December 8.