Romania
parliamentary elections
30/11/2008
Sources: SETimes, electionguide.org
Parliamentary Election Summary
Romanians voted in parliamentary elections on November 11th 2008. The alliance of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Conservative Party (PC) narrowly won with 33.1% of the vote in the election for the Chamber of Deputies and 34.16% vote in election for the Senate. The coalition receives 51 Senate seats, and 115 chamber seats. The Liberal Democratic Party, which trailed by just 0.73% in the Chamber of Deputies and by just 0.59% in the Senate, gets 49 Senate seats and 114 chanber seats.
The gap is around 40,000-50,000 votes, making this the closest election over the past two decades. The National Liberal Party was third with about 18.7% of the vote -- winning 28 Senate seats and 65 chamber seats.
After the resultes were released, PSD leader Mircea Geoana said Romania had "delivered a message".
The elections occurred one day before Romania's national holiday, Union Day, and turnout was very low, at 39.26%. Many in the cities had left for a three-day holiday, which may have significantly cut participation. The new voting system does not allow for voting outside one's own electoral district.