CHISINAU, December 9 (RIA Novosti) – Romanians are voting on Sunday for a new parliament in a crucial poll expected to end months of tense political standoff between the center-left government and the center-right president.
Opinion polls suggest Prime Minister Victor Ponta's Social-Liberal Union (USL), which has been in power since May, is heading for a clear victory in the parliamentary election while right-wing President Traian Basescu’s Right Romania Alliance (ARD) is trailing far behind the USL.
A two-thirds majority in parliament would allow the USL to influence the country’s domestic and foreign policies and curb Basescu’s powers through constitution changes.
Ponta's government tried to impeach the president in July, accusing Basescu of exceeding his authority, undermining the rule of law and meddling in government affairs. Basescu survived the referendum on his impeachment after turnout fell below the 50 percent threshold needed to validate the vote.
Basescu has seen his popularity slump after he backed tough austerity measures demanded by Romania's international lenders.
The USL has pledged to roll back Basescu’s belt-tightening policies that have led to drastic cuts in public wages and a plunge in living standards.
