The Social Liberal Union (USL) is likely to win an outright majority in the parliamentary elections on December 9, according to an opinion poll published today (December 4 ). The latest poll suggests 57 percent of voters support the USL and just 17 percent favor the Right Romania Alliance (ARD). Media mogul Dan Diaconescu's Popular Party is currently running in third place with a projected 15 percent of the vote, according to the opinion polls published by Reuters news agency.

Although the election could give the USL, which includes PM Victor Ponta, a clear mandate and parliamentary majority, problems could arise when incumbent president Traian Basescu has to appoint a prime minister after the election. In all likelihood, president and parliament will remain politically opposed.

The president has already indicated that he will not simply appoint anyone put forward for prime minister by the USL, falling back on his rights and roles under the Romanian Constitution. Essentially the president has made clear that he will not cede the right to nominate a prime minister to parliament.

The only certainty is that whatever the outcome of the election, President Basescu will be constitutionally charged with appointing a prime minister and given the rhetoric coming from all sides, even this normally simple step could prove to be far from straightforward.

The poll, commissioned by the public television broadcaster TVR, surveyed 4,957 people between November 27-December 2 and had a margin of error of 1.4 percent, according to Reuters.

editor@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Romania-Insider.com)