Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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November 30, 2008

Romania Holds Parliamentary Elections
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=20B9341:A6F02AD83191E16066EBB25CE205148F7F0EB4B66EA3A89D&
 
Latest opinion polls show close race between two opposition parties --
the former communist Social Democrats and centrist Liberal Democrats,
with about 30 percent support each 
Voters in Romania are electing a new parliament Sunday, amid concerns
the global economic crisis will bring layoffs and painful austerity
measures to the former Communist nation. As Stefan Bos reports for VOA
from Budapest, voters are likely to punish Romania's current pro-Western
leaders who have been criticized as out of touch with Romanians.
Romanian Gypsy women cast their votes in Sintesti, Romania, Sunday, 30
Nov. 2008Polling stations opened early Sunday in Romania for an election
that was expected to alter the political landscape. Opinion polls
indicate former Communists, now known as the Romanian Social Democrats,
may overtake the ruling center-right National Liberal Party of the
pro-Western Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu. Although Mr.
Tariceanu led Romania into the European Union, there has been concern
over his perceived inability to tackle social tensions in the country,
including massive layoffs linked to the global financial crisis. The
country's main car maker and food and steel factories dismissed some
four thousand people last month alone, and many of their suppliers have
said they will fire workers as well. Speaking at an election rally ahead
of Sunday's vote, Social Democrats leader Mircea Geoana said his party
would be the best choice to revive years of economic growth and more
social benefits. His comments were translated by France 24 Television.
"The approaching crisis calls for a Socialist administration with its
stability and professionalism. On the 30th of November we will win our
greatest victory," Geoana said. Women walk in front of electoral posters
downtown Bucharest, Romania a day before the country holds parliamentary
elections However President Traian Basescu, an ally of the opposition
Democrat Liberal Party, has the power to name the next prime minister,
no matter who wins. In the sixth election since Communism was ended by a
bloody revolt in 1989, Romanians will for the first time choose among
individual candidates for senators and deputies, rather than party
lists, to fill the 45
2-member parliament. As he cast his ballot, President Basescu said he
hoped the new voting system would result in a better functioning
Parliament for this nation of 22 million people. He says the new
parliament should be filled with "those with experience who have already
been in power." Mr. Basescu adds he also wants to see a new, young
generation participating in politics who he says represent "courage and
cleanness" in politics. Some smaller parties are likely to play a role
in future coalitions, including the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in
Romania, which governed with the current prime minister. The party is
backed by many voters of the country's ethnic Hungarian minority of some
1.5 million people. It is expected to receive about five percent of the
nationwide ballots cast.   

 

 


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