Romanian Elections: Ruling Social Democrats in the Lead

After processing about 98% of ballots in Romania's parliamentary elections, the pro-Western PSD leads with 23% of the vote. After polls closed in Romania’s parliamentary elections taking place on Sunday, 1 December, the country’s ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) was gaining the most votes at the time of publication, dw.com reports. According to the online vote count, after processing about 98% of ballots, the PSD receives 23.07%. It is followed by the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) with 18% of the vote, with the center-right National Liberal Party in third place with 14.55%. According to previously announced exit polls, PSD gained 26% of votes, AUR - 19%. However, all extreme right-wing parties made great progress, experts noted - their aggregate result was about 30%. If the final election results confirm the exit polls, the pro-Western coalition led by PSD is likely to win enough seats in parliament to form a government. Romania’s Social Democrat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said in his exit poll comments that the country should continue its European path, “defending its identity, national values and faith”. The election of parliamentarians for a four-year term is based on party lists. The threshold for a party to enter parliament is 5%. A total of 31 political parties are contesting the elections. In the current Romanian parliament, the Social Democrats have a relative majority, insufficient to form a one-party cabinet. A coalition government formed with the National Liberal Party is in power.