10 main conclusions of this year's local elections

This year’s local elections, due to both the fight for Bucharest mayor and the introduction of the uninominal voting for County Council presidencies impose some conclusions.

For the first time Social Democrats (PSD) have the same number of votes as another party, Democrat Liberals (PD-L) not an alliance.

Data so far indicates that Social Democrats and Democrat Liberals seem to gain, each, the same number of votes. For the first time since 1990 the Social Democratic domination is dismantled by a single party and there is no need for an alliance.

Right wing parties continue to dominate over the left spectrum: 47,12% to 28,42%

According to the available data so far, the total number of votes gained by the right wing parties, Liberals (PNL) and Democrat Liberals (PD-L) is 47,12% as compared to the 28,42% received by the Social Democrats (PSD).

When it comes to the number of County Council presidency seats gained, things look quite the same: Democrat Liberals and Liberal have gained, together 22 seats while Social Democrats only 14.

The Democrat’s fusion with the Liberal Democrats was a mistake

If we are to compare this year’s local elections with the European Parliamentary elections in 2007, Democrats(PD) received 28,55% of the votes while the Liberal Democrat Party (PLD) received 7,78%. Thus, the two received, together a total score of 36,33% which is more than the 28,20% they gained now, after they formed the Democrat Liberal Party.

Democrat Liberals, a broken balloon

Even if, compared to the 2004 local elections Democrat Liberals almost doubled its electoral capital, we cannot speak of a victory: in the European Parliamentary elections, Democrat Liberals were credited with 40% in the official pollsters but it only received 28% of the votes and continued to decrease in capital.

The traditional electorate remains unchanged

Democrat Liberals get most of Transylvania and Banat, Central Romania according to the latest partial official results while the Social Democrats lose any significant influence in the area. However, Social Democrats still have Moldova, North Romania even if their influence over there started to decrease since 2004.

Social Democrats saved by rural votes, Democrat Liberals betrayed by urban ones

Social Democrats are, once again, saved by their traditional voters in rural areas and small towns. The 15% difference between the rural and urban turnout generated the high percentage obtained by PSD.

the Liberal Party, equal with itself

Liberals seem to gain more and more capital since the European Parliamentary elections. If in 2004 Liberals gained some 17% and at the EP elections in 2007 they were credited with 15%, now they indulge in 19%.

Mayors – masters and uninominal tycoons

Many incumbent mayors managed to gain their second, third or even fifth mandate from the first round of elections. The phenomenon is interesting since many of them have been involved in many controversies and were investigated by anti-graft prosecutors.

Over 60% of the local tycoons and former County Council presidents were elected through the uninominal voting system and sometimes in the detriment of well known faces from the center.

Romanian Greater Party disappeared and so did many other pocket parties

The Romanian Greater Party (PRM) has gained less and less supporters starting with the European Parliamentary elections. This year, they failed to gain the 5% threshold. In the same vein many other pocket parties like the New Generation Party, the New Initiative Party or the Conservative Party obtained below the 5% threshold.

Bucharest’s unwanted surprise

For the first time, a candidate coming from the Social Democratic camp, now independent has every chance to win the Bucharest mayor seat. Independent Oprescu will face its Democrat Liberal counterpart Blaga in the second round of elections.

In this vein, Social Democrats have already confirmed their support for independent Oprescu, as a measure to block Democrat Liberals.