The ruling left-wing Social Democratic Party (PSD) emerged as the frontrunner in Romania’s parliamentary elections held yesterday, securing 22.6% of the vote with 99.45% of ballots counted, according to the electoral commission’s data.
The hardline right-wing Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) came in second, garnering 18.2% of the vote.
The pro-European Social Democrats, who have been governing alongside the Liberals, secured first place in the elections. However, the significant rise of the far-right has plunged the nation, which shares a border with Ukraine and is a member of both the EU and NATO, into uncertainty.
The total vote share for far-right parties exceeded 31%, nearly tripling their percentage from the 2020 elections.
This parliamentary election follows the surprise success of far-right candidate Călin Georgescu in the first round of the presidential elections last week. The outcome has raised concerns in Western Europe regarding Romania’s strategic direction.
Political scientist Cristian Pîrvulescu observed that the elections have done little to clarify the political situation. “We are facing an extremely fragmented parliament, which poses numerous risks,” he told Agence France-Presse, warning of difficult negotiations to form a government.
Although the Social Democratic Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who was eliminated from the presidential race on 24 November, expressed satisfaction with his party’s first-place finish, he acknowledged the far-right’s rise.
“The Romanian people have sent an important message to the political class,” Ciolacu said, urging continued commitment to the European path while also protecting national identity and values.
The far-right, fragmented into various groups united by their opposition to supporting Kyiv in the name of “peace” and their defence of “Christian values,” welcomed the election results.
“Today, the Romanian people voted in favour of sovereignist forces,” said George Simion, leader of the AUR, which secured 18.2% of the vote. “This marks the beginning of a new era where Romanians reclaim the right to decide their destiny,” Simion added. Voter turnout reached its highest level in two decades for parliamentary elections, at 52%.
Within the same political camp, SOS Romania, led by Kremlin-aligned candidate Diana Șoșoacă, and the newly formed Party of Youth (POT) entered parliament with 7.2% and 6.3% of the vote, respectively.
Since the fall of communism in 1989, Romania has never experienced such a surge in far-right support. However, widespread anger among the country’s 19 million citizens has been growing due to economic difficulties and the war across its borders.
“This strong rise of the far-right, reaching nearly one-third of the electorate, reflects the accumulated frustration within society and dissatisfaction with the economic situation,” commented analyst Radu Magdin.
Nevertheless, the far-right’s ascent to power remains far from guaranteed, as they lack allies.
Already, political leaders are calling for a decisively pro-European “national unity government.”
“United, we can achieve miracles,” declared Elena Lasconi, leader of the centrist USR (12.1%), who advanced to the second round of the presidential elections last week. Following what she described as “nightmarish days,” she called for an end to partisan disputes “to defend democracy” and safeguard Romania’s independence from Russia.
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Source: ANA-MPA
