BUCHAREST (AFP)--The left-wing Social Democrats claimed victory in Romania's general election on Sunday, with the first nationwide election since the country joined the European Union marked by massive disenchantment with politics.
The Prime Minister pleaded with stay-away voters in the hours before polling stations closed in an effort to lift turnout, which polls predicted would be under 45%.
Exit polls by the Insomar and CCSB institutes gave the Social Democrats 36% of the votes cast. They gave the right wing Liberal Democrats about 30.5% and Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu's ruling Liberals just over 20%.
"The Social Democrats won the elections and will lead the next government," party leader Mircea Geoana said.
"There is no reason to ignore the voters' will, which was clearly expressed," he added, inviting all political parties and President Traian Basescu to an "open dialogue" on forming a new government.
The first general elections since Romania joined the European Union in 2007, and the sixth since the fall of communism in 1989, saw the far-right Greater Romania Party, the country's second political force in 2000, unable get into parliament for the first time.
But the junior partner in the Liberal-led government, the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), was likely to figure in coalition talks with about seven percent support, according to CCSB.
With the first partial results expected to be released Monday and the final results only later in the week, the Liberal Democrats were not ready to concede.
"No party got more than 50% of the votes this evening, but if there's a winner, it's the right," party leader Emil Boc argued, insisting that voters had "rejected leftist policies as a solution to the crisis that awaits us."
President Traian Basescu, a close ally of the Liberal Democrats, will name the next prime minister.
He has said that "Nobody shall impose a prime minister on me" and argued that the right wing parties had the policies to fight the economic crisis.
The global economic crisis, which has left Romania battling off recession, and looming labor disputes will quickly confront the next government.
"President Basescu's responsibility is huge because Romania is going through its most difficult period since 1990," political analyst Iosif Boda told AFP.
"The question is whether he will be more concerned with getting a second mandate as president in 2009, or with the need to quickly find a positive government formula for the country," added Cristian Tudor Popescu, a columnist with the daily Gandul.
On the eve of a national holiday and with voters increasingly disillusioned with politicians, forecasts said turnout would not surpass 45%.
Three hours before polling stations closed, the 34% turnout prompted Tariceanu to hold a press conference urging Romanians to cast ballots.
Some 18 million Romanians were called to the polls, with all 315 parliamentary seats and 137 senate seats up for grabs.
For the first time, senators and deputies were elected in a single round of voting, using a combination of party and candidate lists. The presidential election was detached from the vote after the president's mandate was extended to five years instead of four in 2004.
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 30, 2008 16:49 ET (21:49 GMT)

Publié le 30 novembre 2008 Copyright © 2008 Dowjones