Exit polls show Romania's leftists winning parliamentary vote

Record ID: 76733

  • Title: Exit polls show Romania's leftists winning parliamentary vote
  • Date: 11th December 2016
  • Summary: BUCHAREST, ROMANIA (DECEMBER 11, 2016) (REUTERS) VOTING PAPERS BEING TIPPED ONTO TABLE VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS SORTING AND COUNTING VOTING PAPERS
  • Embargoed: 26th December 2016 21:37
  • Keywords: Election poll Romania Social Democrats leftist coalition
  • Location: BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
  • City: BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
  • Country: Romania
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015CFWCW7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Exit polls heavily favoured Romania's leftist Social Democrats (PSD) in Sunday's (December 11) parliamentary election, putting them in pole position to form a coalition government with a junior ally.
    The party, seeking re-election a year after the coalition it led stepped down amid street protests over public administration and corruption, appears to have won the support of many Romanians with its promises of increased social spending.
    Polls conducted by CURS-Avangarde and IRES showed the PSD winning close to 46 percent of the vote, followed by the centre-right National Liberal Party (PNL) with about 22 percent. The Save Romania Union party, a newcomer to Romanian politics, was seen winning up to 9.2 percent.
    ALDE, a small grouping led by former prime minister Calin Tariceanu, a staunch PSD ally, is expected to take about 6 percent of the vote.
    "I am ... overwhelmed by the result," leftist leader Liviu Dragnea said after the exit poll results were announced.
    "Romania is an island of stability in the region. All political factors must understand and respect today's vote."
    Dragnea also said his party will start talks to form a parliamentary majority with long-time ally ALDE.
    "In the coming days, PSD and ALDE will begin discussions in order to form a new majority in parliament ... Today's vote clearly indicates Romanians' choice for a future government," Dragnea said in a statement.
    A technocrat government, led by Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos and limited to a one-year term, took over after the previous coalition's resignation and the PSD has campaigned on a promise to raise public sector wages and to cut taxes.
    Last year's protests were triggered by a deadly fire in a nightclub that lacked emergency exits and other safety measures.
    Victory would mark a remarkable turnaround for PSD leader Dragnea, who was convicted of electoral fraud in April for trying to rig a 2012 referendum and given a two-year suspended jail sentence. He has repeatedly denied he is guilty of any wrongdoing.
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