Economic Crisis, Main Stake Of Romania’s Election – Press

The Associated Press highlights the economic crisis in the background of Romanian elections, stating it could give leftist social democrats the upper hand in the polls.

 

The news agency also sees a low turnout, possibly the lowest in the country’s post-communist history, as voters lack confidence in the country’s politicians.

 

Reuters, which also sees a low turnout, says many voters are disappointed by the slow pace of reform and will prefer to take advantage of a three-day weekend, as Romania celebrates its national day on December 1.

 

Stressing the low probability for any of the main contending parties to secure a majority in Parliament, the AP also lists the potential prime ministers President Traian Basescu might have to choose from.

 

The most important issue, however, according to the U.S. news agency, is the economic crisis in the background of this election, after three years marked by economic growth of 8% annually. The same issue is highlighted by the Financial Times, which said Romanian candidates have already suggested a possible halt in the economy after local carmaker Dacia, a subsidiary of France’s Renault, halted production for three weeks.

 

But, although all large parties competing in Sunday’s poll expect 2009 to be a rough year economy-wise, their plans assume the government would have enough money to spend on incentives.

 

AFP, highlighting in its turn issues raised by the economic crisis, focuses on the novelty of this election, which is marked by a tight duel between the social democratic left wing (Social Democratic party) and the democrat liberal right wing (Democratic Liberal Party) arbitrated by the Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu’s liberal (Liberal Party).

 

This election will be marked by premiers, AFP highlights, as senators and deputies will be elected in a single round of elections, a voting system that combines the uninominal system and the old system which entailed votes cast for an entire list of candidates.

 

This is also the first time in the country’s democratic history when presidential elections are separate from parliamentary elections after the president’s mandate was extended to five years from four, after general elections held in 2004.