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Romanians Vote For New Parliament As Presidential Election Still Disputed.
BUCHAREST — Romanians return to the polls to choose a new parliament as disputes linger over last week’s presidential vote, in which a pro-Russian, far-right candidate pulled off a surprise first-round victory.
Far-right candidates, who also performed surprisingly well in the presidential election, were expected to make gains in the December 1 voting.
More than 10,000 candidates were competing for seats in the bicameral legislature: 329 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 136 in the Senate.
A preelection poll showed the far-right, ultranationalist Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) leading the pack with 22.4 percent backing, just ahead of the ruling Social Democratic Party at 21.4 percent.
The AUR has staked out anti-Western positions, questioning Romania’s membership in the European Union and NATO, alongside xenophobic and other conspiratorial rhetoric.
Under outgoing President Klaus Iohannis, Romania has been a strong supporter of NATO, as well as neighboring Ukraine in its fight against the 2 1/2-year-old Russian invasion.
A shift toward more Russian-friendly leaders could endanger support for Ukraine, analysts say.
The center-right Save Romania Union, meanwhile, was polling at 17.5 percent, according to the survey. Its candidate for president, Elena Lasconi, will face pro-Russian, far-right candidate Calin Georgescu in the December 8 runoff vote.
The Liberal Party — a junior coalition partner to the ruling party — was listed at 13.4 percent.
If no party wins a majority of seats, coalition negotiations will follow. The party gaining the most votes will likely nominate the prime minister.
Along with the divide between the East and West, Romanians have expressed concerns about the country’s ailing economy and rampant corruption.
Voting began late on November 30 among the Romanian diaspora, which may be pivotal in the parliamentary election — although it was not initially clear which parties it would favor.
Moldova is also a key voting space for Romanian elections. Most of Moldova was part of Romania until the end of World War II and many Moldovans also hold Romanian citizenship.
Experts have voiced caution about preelection polling figures, pointing to Georgescu’s unexpected victory in the first round of the presidential vote on November 24.
Lasconi, a small-town mayor who is a vocal supporter of Romania’s NATO and EU alliances, finished second in that vote, barely beating leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.
The Central Election Bureau has begun a court-ordered recount of all ballots cast in the first round, as accusations swirled that Georgescu illegally used TikTok to boost his campaign, among other alleged irregularities.
The Constitutional Court is expected to validate the first-round results on December 2 after the parliamentary vote is completed, people familiar with the court’s plans told RFE/RL’s Romanian Service.
Romania’s president has significant decision-making powers, including on matters of national security and foreign policy. Elected for a five-year term, the president can also reject party nominees for prime minister and government nominees for judicial appointments.
Polls close at 9 p.m. local time, with results being announced as tallies come in.
(rferl)