The Social Democrats win the legislative elections in Romania although the far-right doubles its support

With 99.4% of the count completed, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) has won the legislative elections this past Sunday in Romania, with 22.6% of the votes, while the ultranationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) It came in second position with 18.1% – double that of 2020 – confirmed this Monday by the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP).

In third place was the center-right National Liberal Party (PNL)who governed the last four years in coalition with the PSD, with 14.4% of the votes. Fourth is the centrist nationalist Union Save Romania (USR), with 12.1%.

Two minor far-right parties were able to overcome the 5% threshold to enter Parliament: SOS Romania, with 7.6%, and the Youth Party (POT), with 6.3% of the votes. On the other hand, the formation of the Hungarian minority, Democratic Union of Hungarians of Romania (UDMR), obtained 6.5% of the votes and will also be in Parliament.

The results indicate that, compared to the forecasts, ultranationalist and far-right forces could not increase their support enough enough to fundamentally change the situation in Parliament, despite the fact that the AUR doubled its support compared to the 2020 results.

This way, ultra-nationalist and ultra-right parties—AUR, SOS Romania and POT— add up 32% of the votes.

For its part, the European forces (PSD, PNL, USR and UDMR) added support to 55.5% of the votes, which could control both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate if they reach agreements.

In the first round of the presidential elections a week ago, the pro-Russian ultranationalist Calin Georgescu achieved an unexpected victory, leading analysts to predict a significant rise of the extreme right in Romania.

“The signal sent by Romanians is that we must continue developing the country with European money but, at the same time, protect our identity, our national values ​​and our faith,” Marcel Ciolacu, the current Social Democratic prime minister, said after the elections.

“We have had traitorous governments for a long time. Corruption and looting of the country have gone unpunished,” said George Simion, president of the ultranationalist AUR, adding that “Romania will not be saved by corrupt politicians or by an elite that has sold out his soul to globalism”.

The Constitutional Court is expected to decide this Monday whether to validate or annul the results of the first presidential round, against which two appeals have been filed.

On the other hand, the authorities will also have to report on the result of the recount of the votes cast in the first round of the presidential elections, as requested by the Constitutional Court.