Parliamentary Elections Begin in Romania

Bucharest (Eurotoday) – Romanians vote in a parliamentary election in which the far right is predicted to gain.

Parliamentary elections are being conducted in Romania on 1 December 2024. As reported by local authorities, voting started at 7 a.m. (0500GMT) and will last until 9 p.m. for 19.5 million qualified voters. Contenders from 31 parties, alliances, and 19 organizations of national minorities will contest for a new government and prime minister and determine the shape of the country’s legislature, comprising the 323-seat lower house and the senate (133 seats). Romanians will elect lawmakers for both chambers.

Romania has a proportional system in 43 electoral constituencies, which conform to the 41 counties in Romania, the municipality of Bucharest, and the constituency for the diaspora.

Each constituency is established to represent a geographical location, and the number of mandates assigned to each constituency is proportionate to the number of residents. Political parties must surpass the electoral threshold of 5% at the national level or at least 20% of votes in four constituencies to succeed seats in parliament. 

Which party will emerge dominant in Romanian elections?

According to surveys, the latest blank” rel=”noopener”>prediction is that the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the more prominent partner of the ruling coalition, is racing with around 25% and right-wing populist, the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), tracks with 21%.

The central-right Save Romania Union (USR) is expected to be the third-largest party with about 16%, followed by another central-right National Liberal Party (PRL) with about 14%. The central-right Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) and far-right SOS Romania are also predicted to reach the 5% threshold and succeed seats in parliament.