Democrats top in euro-elections, referendum not validated

The Democratic Party (PD) won most of the votes in the election for the European Parliament (EP) yesterday, with 29.23 percent, according to partial results of the vote published this morning by the Central Electoral Office (BEC). The main opposition party, the Social Democrats (PSD), follow with 21.63 percent, while the governing Liberal Party (PNL) ranks third, with 13.15 percent.

The Liberal Democratic Party (PLD), a new formation founded by several former Liberals, won 8.30 percent of the votes. The Hungarian Democratic Alliance (UDMR) obtained 5.84 percent of the votes. The above are the only parties to pass the 5 percent threshold to enter the European Parliament. The only independent candidate, Laszlo Tokes, won 3.76 percent, thus securing a seat in the EP, given that the threshold for individuals is two percent.

Surprisingly, the second-largest opposition party in the Romanian parliament, the nationalist Greater Romania Party (PRM) did not make it to the EP, with only 4.12 percent of votes secured. PRM leader, Corneliu Vadim Tudor, said last night he will resign from parliament and asked all PRM lawmakers to follow suit or remain in parliament as independent senators and deputies.

Voters were not keen to take part in the vote, as only 28.38 percent of the population voted for the country’s first Euro Parliamentarians. Participation was even lower, at 25.52 percent, for the referendum called by President Traian Basescu to change the voting system. Voters were asked if they prefer a uninominal vote for parliamentarians, as opposed to the current system according to which candidates are voted on party lists. An overwhelming 89.1 percent of voters opted for the uninominal vote. The referendum was not validated, however, because the presence was below the current referendum legislation required minimum of 50 percent plus one voter.