The Social Liberal Union (USL) obtained a huge majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, with 60% and 59% respectively of the votes and in MP mandates, namely a record number of 395 seats. Far behind, the Right Romania Alliance (ARD) came in second place with only 17% of the vote and 80 seats, losing about half of what they won as the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) in 2008.
The government announced the intention to hold parliamentary and local elections at the same time, by lengthening the term of the local elected officials (i.e. Mayors, Local Councils, County Councils, and County Councils Presidents). It was suspected that the attempt to delay local elections was related to the fact that massive street protests had erupted in the meantime, and, at the same time, the opposition political alliance Social Liberal Union (USL) went on strike in the Parliament, pushing for early parliamentary elections to be called one or two weeks after local elections in June. Initially, the government proposed an election date in November 2012, but as the mayoral mandates already expired in June 2012, this was ruled unconstitutional. The local elections were eventually held on 10 June, with an unexpected runoff and three repeated elections on 17 June.
In May 2012, the new USLgovernment passed an electoral law in parliament, which changed the election system to a single-round FPTP system without the 5% electoral threshold[6] with extra seats for minorities, both ethnic minorities and Romanian minorities. However, after PDL, fearing poor results in the elections ahead because of it[citation needed], appealed the Constitutional Court of Romania who invalidated the law on 27 June 2012 and reinstated the old one.[7]
A consequence of this is that after the 2012 parliamentary elections the size of the new Parliament grew to a record total number of 588, an added 117 seats than in the last parliament: 39 supplementary Senate seats, and 97 supplementary Chamber of Deputies seats, including the 18 seats for the ethnic minorities parties and organisations.
The UNPR joined USL in August–September 2012, in a sceptical environment. As a result, some opinion polls showed both political entities. The PNG-CD leader George Becali joined the PNL and ran backed by the USL in Bucharest. Furthermore, his former party did not propose any candidates for this election.
Although a report by the OSCE stated the elections were administered "professionally and efficiently",[10] the electioneering, initiated on 9 November and ended on 8 December, was not without incidents.
Dan Diaconescu, candidate from PP-DD in the same college of Chamber of Deputies in Târgu Jiu with Prime Minister Victor Ponta, is investigated for electoral bribery.[11] Authorities were notified after PSD representatives within Gorj County Council filed a complaint regarding the distribution of food and the organization of an electoral spectacle before the electioneering.[12] According to the Emergency Ordinance issued on 6 November by Ponta Cabinet, offering food, drink and money in the campaign is illegal.[13]
On 11 November, an old man from the commune of Mătăsari (Gorj County) had a heart attack shortly after a discussion in contradictory with PDL deputy Constantin Severus Militaru.[14] PDL deputy said that the old man was very indignant because his pension was not recalculated, although he had worked all his life in mining.[15]
The President of PDL Vrancea, Alin Trășculescu, was caught in the act by anticorruption prosecutors while receiving €50,000 from a businessman in the form of bribe.[16] He was detained for 24 hours for allegations of lobbyism, instigation to false and incitement to the misdemeanor of money laundering.[17] Alin Trășculescu was under the supervision of National Anticorruption Department for two years. He claimed he could get contracts with the State, from the Ministry of Development and Tourism, led then by Elena Udrea.
Results
The Social Liberal Union (USL) maintained majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
Two local non-binding referendums were also organized on 9 December, concerning environmental issues.[18]
The first one took place in Alba county and people were asked whether they were in favor or against the Roșia Montanămining project. Although 62% of those who voted voiced support for the controversial project, the referendum did not meet the required turnout of 50%, as only 43,2% of voters turned up.[18]
The second referendum was held in the communes of Limanu, Costinești as well as in the city of Mangalia and asked voters to say whether they were in favor or against the use, by Chevron, of shale gas extraction by means of hydraulic fracturing. This referendum failed to meet the required turnout as well.[18]
Notes
^Pambuccian, a member of the Union of Armenians of Romania, has been the parliamentary leader of the national minorities' group since 1996.
^ National minorities have nationwide mandates and do not represent a specific county.[2]
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