Romanian elections spark debates over fraud and future direction

Based on the exit poll results, Romanian media are already elaborating on coalition scenarios, but experts are calming emotions and advising them to wait for the final results.

Firstly, the exit polls do not account for nearly 800,000 votes from the diaspora, and secondly, the exit polls were mistaken in the first round of the presidential elections, showing results significantly different from the final outcomes.

Marcel Ciolacu, the current prime minister and former leader of the Social Democratic Party, acknowledged the importance of the responsibility towards Romania. He emphasized the need to reflect on the day's outcomes, describing them as a significant message from the Romanian people to their political leaders. He highlighted the importance of using European funds for the country's development while safeguarding Romania's identity, national values, and faith. Ciolacu stepped down from his party leadership after finishing third in the first round of the presidential elections.

According to the exit poll, PSD gained 26% in parliamentary elections.

The leader of the radical right-wing AUR party, which according to the exit poll took second place with 19%, George Simion spoke about the "rebirth of Romania", indicating not only the result of his party but also two anti-system forces – S.O.S Romania (5.4%) and the Young People's Party POT (5.4%) and the centre-left progressive party SENS, which however did not exceed the election threshold, obtaining over 3%.

Simion reflected on how their prediction about new political forces entering parliament was initially met with skepticism. However, he noted that the landscape is shifting, and their primary goal of reforming Romania's political class and removing corrupt parties is nearing realization, aligning with the people's will. He described this period as a historic turning point, marked by a collective effort that he believes signifies Romania's renewal.

He also declared that AUR will not form a coalition with PSD because "it does not ally with corruption," his party will support Calin Georgescu in the presidential elections with all its resources.

Diana Sosoaca, the leader of the nationalist and pro-Russian S.O.S Romania party, reported the portal G4media. ro that she accused authorities of rigging the elections and announced her intention to file a criminal complaint regarding the organization of the elections.

"From what I saw in the exit poll, I think the wisest thing would be to wait for tomorrow's vote count. When Romanians unite, we can make miracles happen! TikTok bots cannot destroy our democracy. [...] We will bitterly defend our independence from Russia! The memory of the Russian tanks running over us is not forgotten," said the centrist-right leader of USR, Elena Lasconi, who took second place in the first round of the presidential elections. She emphasized that she understands the anger of Romanian citizens towards 35 years of the current elite's rule.

Lasconi's party gained more than 15% support in the exit poll.

Jakub Bielamowicz, an analyst at the Institute of New Europe, emphasizes that "the outcome of the elections in Romania has never been so difficult to predict."

"After the first round of the presidential elections, where, surprising everyone, the first place was won by a radically right-wing candidate from the fringe of Romanian politics, Calin Georgescu, a high result is also expected in the parliamentary elections for parties with a similar profile," noted Bielamowicz.

In the parliamentary elections, the turnout was over 52%, with the number of votes cast at 9.4 million, to which about 50,000 votes from countries where voting ended after the polls closed in Romania (which occurred at 9 AM Eastern Time) will be added.