Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Fiscal Reform, Corruption in Focus in Romania Parliamentary Election

Reuters

   BUCHAREST, ROMANIA - Romanians head to the polls Sunday in a national
   ballot key to restoring the country's reputation among investors, with
   the incumbent, reform-oriented centrists of Prime Minister Ludovic
   Orban holding a narrow lead over opposition Social Democrats.

   In power for a year despite his opponents' hold over parliament, Orban,
   57, has said he would undo a 40% pension hike ordered by the leftist
   PSD, which economists say could bloat the deficit to 11% of GDP and
   push Romania's credit rating to junk.

   He has pledged to halt efforts by leftist-led cabinets to sap court
   independence amid the judiciary's scrutiny of alleged corruption and
   misuse of funds, accusations the PSD denies.

   'Decisive choice'

   Orban has campaigned on a promise to bring the Black Sea state closer
   to the European mainstream following years of fiscal populism and
   political instability coupled with neglect of rundown infrastructure
   and public services.

   "There is a decisive choice to make on December 6: We can become a top
   EU member or remain, again, a laggard," Orban told party members during
   the campaign. "I'm not happy with an average Romania."

   The Romanian leu has traded near all-time lows against the euro in the
   last year, following a string of corruption-related scandals that has
   toppled three governments since the last parliamentary election in
   2016.

   All three main rating agencies have Romania only one notch above junk
   and on a negative outlook.

.