Romanians return to the polls with far right hoping to gain ground

Romanians headed back to the polls on Sunday to elect a new parliament, with the prospect of a far-right victory heralding a shift in the foreign policy of the NATO country bordering Ukraine.

The parliamentary poll comes at a time of political turmoil, sparked when a top court ordered a recount of the first round of the separate presidential election on November 24.

The presidential ballot was won by Calin Georgescu, a little-known far-right admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin. A run-off in that poll is scheduled for December 8.

Despite accusations of Russian influence and alleged interference via TikTok, Sunday's parliamentary elections went ahead as planned.  

Fresh start

Florentina Noja, a 55-year-old engineer, said she voted for "some young" candidates that were "a little less indoctrinated by the current system." She added: "We need to try to start afresh."

Romania's political landscape has been shaped by two major parties for the past three decades. But analysts predict a fragmented parliament will emerge from Sunday's vote, influencing the chances of forming a future government.

The country of 19 million people has so far resisted rising nationalism in the region, but experts say it now faces its most difficult situation since the country's revolution of 1989, amid anger over soaring inflation and rising fears of being dragged into the Russia and Ukraine conflict. 

George Sorin, an economist in Bucharest and supporter of the far-right parties, believed the outgoing parliament had mostly served the interests of Ukraine by sending aid and had prioritized the EU over "national interests."

Which parties could shine on the right?

The far-right parties include the AUR, whose leader, George Simion, won nearly 14 percent of the presidential vote.

There is also the extreme-right SOS Romania party led by firebrand Diana Sosoaca, and the recently founded Party of Young People (POT), which could reach the five-percent threshold to enter parliament.

In the opposing pro-EU camp, the centrist USR hopes to do well after their leader Elena Lasconi placed second in the presidential ballot.

The ruling Social Democrats (PSD) and the National Liberal Party (PNL) suffered a big defeat in last week's presidential election.

Outgoing Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said after voting that Sunday's parliamentary ballot was a choice "between stability and chaos."

Outgoing pro-EU President Klaus Iohannis said the vote was "crucial" and would determine Romania's future - whether it will "remain a country of freedom and openness or collapse into toxic isolation and a dark past."