Romanian leftists ahead of resurgent far right in election

Romania's ruling leftist Social Democrats (PSD) looked set to win the most votes in a parliamentary election on Sunday, fending off a resurgent far-right movement that challenges the country's pro-Western orientation, partial results showed.

The vote is the second of three consecutive ballots for both a new parliament and a new president, after the first round of the presidential election on November 24 saw an independent far-right candidate, Calin Georgescu, emerge from relative obscurity to become the frontrunner.

His unexpected win ushered in support for ultranationalist, hard-right parties, some with overt pro-Russian sympathies, which political analysts said could undermine Romania's support for Ukraine.

If final results confirm the preliminary count, a pro-Western coalition led by the PSD would likely have enough seats in parliament to form a government, although the far right would be a substantial force in the legislature.

However, a broad coalition would be difficult to form amid disagreements over reforms and measures needed to rein in the country's gaping budget deficit, now the highest in the EU at 8 per cent of economic output.

Sergiu Miscoiu, a political science professor at Babes-Bolyai University, said the PSD would likely play a central part in any coalition talks.

But the results pointed to "the most fragmented political spectrum since 1990," he said, in a reflection of deepening social divisions in Romania, which has some of the EU's poorest regions.

With 90 per cent of votes counted, the PSD won 23.9 per cent of votes, ahead of the hard-right Alliance for Uniting Romanians with 17.9 per cent . Lasconi's centrist opposition Save Romania Union (USR) had 11.1 per cent , while the junior ruling coalition ally Liberals had 14.6 per cent . Two far-right groupings, SOS and POT, had 7.2 per cent and 5.8 per cent , respectively, and the ethnic Hungarian Party UDMR got 7 per cent .

After a campaign dominated by voters' concerns over budget problems and the cost of living, the election pitted the far-right contenders against pro-European mainstream parties that have angered their voters with infighting and corruption allegations.

Far-right parties have also used Romania's championing of Ukraine to stoke fears the war could spill over the border unless the country halts its support, as well as resentment over alleged preferential treatment for refugees from Ukraine.

Romania has the EU's biggest share of the population at risk of poverty, and swathes of the country need investment to attract jobs.

"I am not voting for any party which has been in parliament before. It is an elimination vote," Marian Gheorghe, a cab driver, said. "I have children and I am tired of telling them 'No' because I can't afford what they need."

"Where is the justice? Why are Romanian children less than Ukrainian children?"