Romanians Vote For Parliament Amid Ongoing Presidential Election Disputes

BUCHAREST -- Even as disputes remain over the first round of last week’s presidential election, Romanians return to the polls on December 1 to choose their parliamentary representatives as the battle between East and West rages in the Black Sea nation.

The country’s far-right and often pro-Russia elements -- which performed surprisingly well in the presidential election -- are expected to make gains in the parliamentary vote as well.

More than 10,000 candidates have registered to compete for seats in the bicameral parliament --329 seats in the lower house Chamber of Deputies and 136 in the Senate.

A poll conducted by AtlasIntel indicated the far-right, ultranationalist Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) leading the pack with 22.4 percent backing, just ahead of the ruling the Social Democratic Party (PSD) at 21.4 percent.

The AUR has staked out strongly anti-Western positions, questioning Romania's membership in the European Union and NATO, alongside xenophobia and conspiratorial rabble-rousing.

Under incumbent Klaus Iohannis, Romania has been one of Kyiv's staunchest allies, but a shift toward more Russia-friendly leaders could endanger support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, analysts say.

The center-right Save Romania Union (USR) was at 17.5 percent. Elena Lasconi, a pro-West former small-town mayor for the USR, will compete on December 8 in a runoff presidential vote against pro-Russia, far-right candidate Calin Georgescu.

The Liberal Party (PNL) -- a junior coalition partner to the PSD – was listed at 13.4 percent.

If no party wins a majority of seats, coalition negotiations will follow. The party gaining the most votes would likely nominate the prime minister.

Along with the divide between the East and West, Romanians have expressed concerns about the 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 is not initially clear which parties it will favor.

Moldova is 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.

Political parties must capture at least 5 percent of the votes at a national level to qualify for parliament. Political alliances of two parties must attain 8 percent, alliances of three parties must get 9 percent, and alliances of four parties or more must achieve 10 percent.

Pre-vote polls may not be indicative of the final results, however.

In the November 24 presidential first round, independent candidate Georgescu shocked the field by coming from nowhere to lead the voting, gaining nearly 23 percent.

Lasconi, a staunch Euro-Atlanticist, finished second in that vote, barely beating favored leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu of the PSD and leading to the runoff against Georgescu.

Ciolacu resigned as PSD party leader following his disappointing showing in the presidential election.

Romania's Central Election Bureau has begun a court-ordered recount of all ballots cast in the first round of the presidential election, as accusations swirled that Georgescu illegally used TikTok to boost his campaign, among other alleged irregularities.

The Constitutional Court ordered the recount on November 28 after officials from the Supreme Council of National Defense demanded that the authorities take "urgent" steps, saying Georgescu was granted "preferential treatment" by the social media platform. TikTok has denied any wrongdoing.

Sources have told RFE/RL's Romanian Service that the Constitutional Court, which was originally set to validate the results of the first round of the election on November 29, will do so on December 2 after the parliamentary vote is completed.

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.