Romanian voters cast ballots Sunday in a legislative election that many hope will restore some stability in one of the poorest European Union nations after five years of political and social turmoil.
More than 18 million Romanians are registered to vote for a new national parliament but turnout is expected to be low due to voters’ fears about becoming infected with coronavirus.
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Romanian voters cast ballots Sunday in a legislative election that many hope will restore some stability in one of the poorest European Union nations after five years of political and social turmoil.
The PNL has controlled Romania’s minority government since last October when its main rival, the left-leaning, populist Social Democrat Party, lost a confidence vote in the parliament amid massive protests over widespread corruption and heavy criticism from Brussels over the Social Democrats' attacks on the judiciary.
No special virus precautions have been put in place for the election beyond general requirements to wear masks, sanitize hands and maintain social distancing.
Valeriu Nicolae, a Romanian Roma human rights activist, who runs as an independent in the upcoming parliamentary elections, reaches for his glasses during an interview with the Associated Press, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday Dec. 6. (AP PhotoAndreea Alexandru)
FILE- In this May 24, 2019, file picture, Dacian Ciolos, former Romanian prime minister and EU commissioner for Agriculture, representing the 2020 USR PLUS alliance, addresses a European Parliament elections rally, in Bucharest, Romania. Ciolos is one of the leaders of the USR PLUS alliance. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Dec. 6, 20330. Banner reads "Without thievery - We'll go far". (AP PhotoVadim Ghirda, FIle)
Electoral leaflets showing Valeriu Nicolae, a Romanian Roma human rights activist, who runs as an independent in the upcoming parliamentary elections, are placed on a table, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday Dec. 6. Leaflet reads "From within the Parliament( we can accomplish even more. This is why I am running for office" .(AP PhotoAndreea Alexandru)
A man wearing a mask for protection against the COVID-19 infection walks in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday Dec. 6. (AP PhotoAndreea Alexandru)
A man wearing a mask for protection against the COVID-19 infection walks by the logo of the Liberal Party in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday Dec. 6. (AP PhotoAndreea Alexandru)
Valeriu Nicolae, a Romanian Roma human rights activist, who runs as an independent in the upcoming parliamentary elections, looks at a mobile phone during an interview with the Associated Press, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday Dec. 6. (AP PhotoAndreea Alexandru)
A person lies on the pavement covered in a carpet downtown Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday Dec. 6. (AP PhotoAndreea Alexandru)
Valeriu Nicolae, center background, a Romanian Roma human rights activist, who runs as an independent in the upcoming parliamentary elections, sets up a tablet for online schooling for children of a family in a poor area of Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday Dec. 6. (AP PhotoVadim Ghirda)
FILE- in this Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, file picture an elderly woman wearing a mask for protection against the COVID-19 infection carries a baby in a poor area of Bucharest, Romania. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday Dec. 6. (AP PhotoVadim Ghirda, File)
According to most pre-election polls, the center-right National Liberal Party, known by its Romanian acronym PNL, is expected to become the largest party in the 465-seat bicameral parliament with over 30% support. Still, that would fall short of a governing majority. Analysts predict the party will seek to create a governing coalition with the progressive USR-Plus alliance, which is forecast to capture around 20% of the vote.
Electoral posters are placed on a board in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday Dec. 6. (AP PhotoAndreea Alexandru)
The PNL has controlled Romania’s minority government since last October when its main rival, the left-leaning, populist Social Democrat Party, lost a confidence vote in the parliament amid massive protests over widespread corruption and heavy criticism from Brussels over the Social Democrats' attacks on the judiciary.
Still, the Social Democrats remained the strongest party in the parliament and have spent the past year obstructing the minority cabinet’s efforts to contain the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The Social Democrats are popular among Romania’s rural voters and are expected to win over 20% of the vote.
To date, Romania has confirmed over half a million virus cases, with more than 12,000 deaths — and the country's outbreak is growing. Almost two-thirds of the confirmed cases and nearly a half of all virus-related deaths have been in the past two months.
Valeriu Nicolae, a Romanian Roma human rights activist, who runs as an independent in the upcoming parliamentary elections, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday Dec. 6. (AP PhotoAndreea Alexandru)
No special virus precautions have been put in place for the election beyond general requirements to wear masks, sanitize hands and maintain social distancing.
Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
A man wearing a mask for protection against the COVID-19 infection walks by electoral posters in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday Dec. 6. (AP PhotoAndreea Alexandru)
Valeriu Nicolae, a Romanian Roma human rights activist, who runs as an independent in the upcoming parliamentary elections, reaches for his glasses during an interview with the Associated Press, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday Dec. 6. (AP PhotoAndreea Alexandru)
FILE- In this May 24, 2019, file picture, Dacian Ciolos, former Romanian prime minister and EU commissioner for Agriculture, representing the 2020 USR PLUS alliance, addresses a European Parliament elections rally, in Bucharest, Romania. Ciolos is one of the leaders of the USR PLUS alliance. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Dec. 6, 20330. Banner reads "Without thievery - We'll go far". (AP PhotoVadim Ghirda, FIle)
Electoral leaflets showing Valeriu Nicolae, a Romanian Roma human rights activist, who runs as an independent in the upcoming parliamentary elections, are placed on a table, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday Dec. 6. Leaflet reads "From within the Parliament( we can accomplish even more. This is why I am running for office" .(AP PhotoAndreea Alexandru)
A man wearing a mask for protection against the COVID-19 infection walks in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday Dec. 6. (AP PhotoAndreea Alexandru)
A man wearing a mask for protection against the COVID-19 infection walks by the logo of the Liberal Party in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday Dec. 6. (AP PhotoAndreea Alexandru)
Valeriu Nicolae, a Romanian Roma human rights activist, who runs as an independent in the upcoming parliamentary elections, looks at a mobile phone during an interview with the Associated Press, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday Dec. 6. (AP PhotoAndreea Alexandru)
A person lies on the pavement covered in a carpet downtown Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday Dec. 6. (AP PhotoAndreea Alexandru)
Valeriu Nicolae, center background, a Romanian Roma human rights activist, who runs as an independent in the upcoming parliamentary elections, sets up a tablet for online schooling for children of a family in a poor area of Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday Dec. 6. (AP PhotoVadim Ghirda)
FILE- in this Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, file picture an elderly woman wearing a mask for protection against the COVID-19 infection carries a baby in a poor area of Bucharest, Romania. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday Dec. 6. (AP PhotoVadim Ghirda, File)