August 24, 2006

Abstract: - The governing Alliance for Justice and Truth (DA) remains the most popular political group in Romania, according to a poll by CURS. 43 per cent of respondents would vote for the coalition of the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Democratic Party (PD) in the next legislative election.

- The governing Alliance for Justice and Truth (DA) remains the most popular political group in Romania, according to a poll by CURS. 43 per cent of respondents would vote for the coalition of the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Democratic Party (PD) in the next legislative election.

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) is second with 24 per cent, followed by the Party of Great Romania (PRM) with 12 per cent, and the Hungarian Democratic Alliance of Romania (UDMR) and the New Generation Party (PNG) with six per cent each. Support is lower for the Conservative Party (PC), the Democratic National Peasant Party (PNTCD) and the National Initiative Party (PIN).

The alliance won the November 2004 parliamentary election, securing 132 seats in the 332-member Chamber of Deputies. DA candidate Traian Basescu won the presidential run-off in December 2004 with 51.23 per cent of the vote, defeating PSD contender Adrian Nastase. Basescu later appointed fellow alliance member Calin Popescu Tariceanu as prime minister.

In April 2005, the European Parliament approved the entry of Romania and Bulgaria into the European Union (EU) in 2007, but warned that both countries still need to enact reforms, eradicate corruption and fight organized crime. The accession treaty contains a clause that could force a one-year delay in case certain conditions are not met.

Earlier this month, Romania was embroiled in a controversy over secret police files. Former president Emil Constantinescu claimed that Basescu collaborated with the State Security Department (Securitate), but that his file was destroyed. The current head of state has denied having signed an agreement to take part in the Securitate's activities, adding that he merely wrote "routine reports" as the captain of a merchant ship.

Polling Data

What party would you support in Romania's parliamentary election?

	Jul. 2006	May 2006
Alliance for Justice and Truth (DA) National Liberal Party (PNL) Democratic Party (PD)	43%	42%
Social Democratic Party (PSD)	24%	23%
Party of Great Romania (PRM)	12%	14%
Hungarian Democratic Alliance of Romania (UDMR)	6%	6%
New Generation Party (PNG)	6%	4%
Conservative Party (PC)	3%	4%
Democratic National Peasant Party (PNTCD)	2%	2%
National Initiative Party (PIN)	2%	2%
Other parties	2%	2%

Source: Centre for Urban and Regional Sociology (CURS)
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 1,100 Romanian adults, conducted from Jul. 10 to Jul. 17, 2006. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.