Election victory for the Romanian Social Democrats

The opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD) has come first in Romania's parliamentary elections. According to Cotidianul newspaper, "the Social Democrats' electoral machine functioned perfectly. The party had better results than in 2004. This is probably the best proof that the PSD really operates like a professional political organisation. It has demonstrated that it has a well-structured, functional apparatus, as well as strategists, propagandists and talented lobbyists. The PSD was able to capitalise on its advantages and, much more importantly, create new ones. It redrew the electoral constituencies to its own advantage. And it drummed into the heads of the [governing] National Liberals of the PNL that it was in their interest to count on a low voter turnout, convincing them to hold the elections on a long weekend [Monday is a holiday in Romania], after excluding entire segments of the electorate from taking part through interdictions."

» full article (external link, Romanian)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Romania
All available articles from » Adrian Ursu

» To the complete press review of Monday, December 1, 2008