Romania’s pro-Western parties start talks on forming new coalition government

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Romania’s pro-Western parties have launched talks on forming a new coalition government following parliamentary elections on Dec. 1, local media reported Monday.

The Social Democratic Party (PSD), which finished first in the polls, National Liberal Party (PNL), center-right Save Romania Union (USR), Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) and some lawmakers representing minorities in the country will go to President Klaus Iohannis after agreeing on who will lead the coalition government, said broadcaster Antena3.

A meeting between the political teams will take place on Tuesday for negotiations on the future government, governing program and budget, it added.

According to the broadcaster, the PSD wants to appoint the prime minister in the new government as they won the most seats in the elections.

It noted that the formula for nominating a candidate for the head of government from the PNL has lost ground as the party lost a significant number of seats in parliament.

In the Dec. 1 elections for the Senate, the PSD won 22.32% with over 2.06 million votes, officials announced Monday

It was followed by the nationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), which garnered 18.28% with 1.69 million votes, the PNL, which got 14.29% with over 1.32 million votes, the Save Romania Union (USR) with 12.25% and 1.13 million votes, and the far-right SOS Romania party with 7.75% and over 716,000 votes.

In elections for the Chamber of Deputies, or lower house, the PSD won 21.86% with more than 2.06 million votes.

It was followed by the AUR, which garnered 17.92% with 1.69 million votes, the PNL with 14% and over 1.32 million votes, the USR with 12.35% and 1.13 million votes, and the far-right SOS Romania party with 7.6% and over 717,000 votes.

The right-wing populist Party of Young People and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania also passed the 5% electoral threshold.

The PSD secured 86 seats in the lower chamber and 37 in the Senate, followed by the AUR with 64 seats in the lower chamber and 28 in the Senate, and the PNL with 50 seats in the lower chamber and 22 in the Senate.

According to the Romanian Constitution, at least 235 members of parliament, which comprises the Chamber of Deputies with 331 seats and the Senate with 136 seats, is required to form a government, and the PSD falls short of those numbers.