Social Democrats Win Romania’s Parliamentary Election

Romania's future parliament and government will maintain the country’s strong pro-EU, pro-NATO, and pro-Ukraine stance despite a surge by ultra-nationalist parties, Malek Fouda reported for Euronews and the Associated Press (AP).

With more than 99% of votes counted, Romania’s ruling leftist Social Democratic Party (PSD) is set to win Sunday’s parliamentary elections. I Photo: Parlamentul Republicii Moldova Wikimedia Commons

With more than 99% of votes counted, Romania’s ruling leftist Social Democratic Party (PSD) is set to win Sunday’s parliamentary elections, capturing just under 23% of the vote. This gives them an almost 5% lead over the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), which secured slightly over 18%.

The center-right National Liberal Party (PNL) garnered approximately 14.4%, while the reformist Save Romania Union (USR) achieved 12%.

Three additional parties passed the 5% threshold to enter parliament: the far-right SOS Romania party with 7.5%, the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania at 6.5%, and the right-wing Party of Young People at 6.2%.

The legislative election follows a controversial first-round presidential race last week, where independent far-right populist candidate Călin Georgescu won the most votes. Incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who finished third in the presidential election, subsequently resigned as PSD leader.