Bucharest - Romanians went to the polls Sunday to elect their first European Parliament MPs and take part in an electoral law referendum, but the latter was invalidated by a low turnout. In the Euro MPs election, the Democratic party (PD) close to President Traian Basescu appeared to have won the most votes - just under a third - according exit polls. The ruling National Liberal Party (PNL) of Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu appeared to have won only around 15.5 per cent in the election.
Basescu said the result showed that the government had only weak support and was therefore "undemocratic." He said he believed the country still wanted change, but was forced to admit defeat in the electoral referendum he supported.
Turnout was just 29.12 per cent in the MP election and an even lower 26.04 per cent for the referendum, which would have required 50 per cent of Croatians to show. Basescu accused some politicians of advising voters to stay home.
Of those who did turn out, 89.2 per cent approved a first-past- the-post system in which only candidates who win a direct constituency majority can enter parliament. That method was being pushed by Basescu, who opposes the system recently agreed to in parliament, under which list candidates automatically are taken into consideration as well. Basescu's system would favor larger parties.
The poll also appeared to have enabled the new radical right-wing- clerical New Generation party of Steaua Bucharest football club owner George Becali to enter the European Parliament, as well as members of minor parties vying for one of Romania's 35 available seats.
