Bucharest: Romania's left-leaning Social Democrats (PSD) appeared poised to secure the most votes in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, holding off a growing far-right movement that challenges the country's pro-Western stance, according to partial results. This election follows the first round of the presidential race on November 24, where far-right independent candidate Călin Georgescu unexpectedly surged to prominence, emerging as the frontrunner.

Georgescu’s rise has fueled momentum for ultranationalist factions, some openly sympathetic to Russia, raising concerns among analysts about the potential erosion of Romania’s strong support for Ukraine. If preliminary results hold, a pro-European coalition led by the PSD is expected to have enough parliamentary seats to govern. However, the presence of a robust far-right bloc in the legislature could complicate policymaking.

Building a broad coalition may prove challenging, as parties clash over reforms needed to address Romania’s substantial budget deficit, currently the EU’s largest at 8% of GDP. Political science professor Sergiu Miscoiu of Babeș-Bolyai University highlighted the fragmented political landscape, calling it the most divided since 1990, a reflection of Romania's growing societal rifts.

With 90% of votes counted, the PSD secured 23.9%, ahead of the far-right Alliance for Uniting Romanians at 17.9%. The centrist Save Romania Union (USR) received 11.1%, while the ruling coalition’s junior partner, the Liberals, garnered 14.6%. Two other far-right parties, SOS and POT, earned 7.2% and 5.8%, respectively, and the ethnic Hungarian UDMR party obtained 7%.

The campaign was marked by voter frustration over economic woes, including a high cost of living and persistent corruption. Far-right groups exploited fears about Romania’s strong backing of Ukraine, suggesting it risked pulling the country into conflict and stoking resentment over perceived preferential treatment of Ukrainian refugees. Romania’s large at-risk population and underdeveloped regions further amplified these grievances.

Disillusioned voters like Marian Gheorghe, a taxi driver, expressed anger at the political establishment. "I won’t vote for any party that’s been in parliament before. It’s a vote of elimination," he said, citing struggles to meet his family’s needs.

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu of the PSD, who finished third in the presidential race’s first round, stated that the party would deliberate on terms for coalition negotiations. PSD European MP Victor Negrescu confirmed that discussions would begin Monday. Analysts suggest the PSD is more likely to partner with centrist parties than far-right factions, though much hinges on the outcome of the presidential race, as the president appoints the prime minister.

The presidential race remains in limbo, with Romania's Constitutional Court delaying its decision on whether to annul the first-round results until December 2. Allegations of foreign interference have cast a shadow over the election, prompting a recount of the nearly 9.5 million votes cast. If a rerun is ordered, the presidential election's first round could be rescheduled for December 15, with a potential runoff on December 29.