The Romanian centre-left party the Social Democrats (PSD) have won the country’s parliamentary elections following the departure of its last socialist prime minister due to corruption.



The Social Democrats won 46% of Sunday’s election votes with the National Liberal Party (PNL) coming second with around 20%. Founded in 2015, new anti-corruption party Save Romania Union (USR) came third in the polls as they promised to tackle the inefficiency and cronyism in the country.



We asked readers in Romania for their views on the election and what it means to them.



‘My vote for PSD was half-hearted’

Romania is one of the few countries in Europe where the far right is not even in parliament and this has to do at least in part with the institutional resilience of mainstream parties (especially PSD), the rejection of austerity post 2012 by the PSD government, and the fact that most of us feel that the established prosecutorial authorities have made the powerful fear for their future if they steal.



We have the luxury of not being hit by controversies with refugees (sadly, we would have reacted perhaps as intolerantly as others) and rather than malaise we have seen economic growth for several years in a row. In most large cities and regions jobs are plentiful and consumer choice is up. Wages are low but they kept going up and PSD is the only party that made repeated growth in minimum wages a priority (and, when in power, a reality).



My vote for PSD was half-hearted: they are not progressive on LGBT, they promise to enact tax cuts alongside leftist minimum wage and pension increases. Many of their MPs are of shoddy quality. USR, a new party, has cooler people in it, some with great activist credentials; but the 2010-2011 austerity and destruction of labor rights done by the right was so gruesome that I voted for a safe choice. USR is tempting but they are host to a few sadistic neoliberals that do not reassure me at all. I am here in the US for a week and seeing the Trump disaster I go for a party that is a member of the Party of European Socialists, whose many faults are real, but at least they stand for a more humane perspective on the rights of people living off their average wages.



Daniel, a technician in Cluj-Napoca

‘PSD have the most coherent governing plan’

I voted for PSD as I consider that they have the most coherent governing plan while the rest of the parties either have very vague and generalistic promises, or they propose some ideas but with no actual plan on how to get there.

I would describe myself as a social democrat but with liberal ideas. In principal, the modernisation of Romania and the anti corruption fight would interest me as issues in my country. Also, the economic development of the country is extremely important. Kevin Vamă, a 20-year-old working in guest services, London



‘In a country where politics have been dominated by crooks they seem like a breath of fresh air’

I voted for USR for two main reasons: firstly, because they are new in politics, so they haven’t got their hands dirty yet. In a country where politics have been dominated by crooks for over 20 years, they seem like a breath of fresh air. I think they deserve a chance. Secondly, because I’ve seen their platform and it reminded me of Barack Obama’s platform in 2008. A call to change and reform!



I think this is the first long term plan I’ve heard from a Romanian political party since the EU accession. It’s the first time someone seems to think beyond next year’s budget or the elections. Generally, our politicians just scramble to fix today’s problems without thinking about tomorrow. There is no overall plan or vision. No long term strategy. And this perpetuates the state of precarity the county has been struggling with since the fall of communism.



Virginia, 35-year-old translator in Bucharest



‘I voted for USR to try and get rid of corruption in the country’



I don’t want corruption which is why I voted for USR. We need infrastructure and I want to stop certain people from grabbing power. I have previously voted for PDL because there they were more Europe centric and did quite a few things for the country in the four years they were in power.

Catalin, 28-year-old who works in IT in Iași

‘We need a new youth generation to inspire us’



Dacian Cioloș is the best for now. Even though I voted for PNL, at the end of the day my vote was for nothing. We always vote for the same thing. We need a new youth generation to inspire us. Many of them who study end up graduating with nowhere to work. If they do find a job many of them are treated and paid poorly, which is why it’s important that things change.



Maracine George Alexandru, 27-year-old engineer in Râmnicu Vâlcea

‘Cioloș has proved himself to be honest which is why he should stay’

PNL are most likely to keep this prime minister on board, which is why I voted for them. Cioloș has proved himself to be honest and efficient which is why he should stay. I don t really follow politics but I do care about education amd health, and I think PNL can help in these areas.



Madalina, a 30-year-old working in IT in Cluj-Napoca