Romanian right-wing parties to run on joint EU election list

11 months ago 36

Romania’s right-wing parties USR, Forța Dreptei, and PMP have decided to form the United Right Alliance and present a joint EU election list to challenge PSD-PNL in June’s upcoming EU elections, the parties announced Monday despite all being quite low in the latest polls.

The new alliance has already presented its first eight candidates, including former USR president Dan Barna, former Health Minister Vlad Voiculescu, MEP Eugen Tomac, MEP Vlad Botoș, Cristina Prună, Violeta Alexandru, Radu Mihail, and Corina Atanasiu.

When questioned about public opinion regarding the alliance, USR leader Cătălin Drulă provided a nuanced response. Sociological research indicates that “four of five Romanians believe this government is taking the country in the wrong direction”, he says.

Drulp refrained from making predictions, emphasising that the United Right Alliance project spans the entire 2024 election year, with four election rounds.

Ludovic Orban, leader of the Forța Dreptei party, suggested that authentic sociological research supporting their cause exists but is not publicised due to alleged press manipulation by PSD and PNL.

Political sources suggest that the alliance aspires to secure six mandates in the European Parliament: four for USR and one each for Forța Dreptei and PMP.

The initiative revolves around USR, which commands approximately 15% in recent polls, while Forța Dreptei and PMP, with around 1% each, rally behind the alliance.

However, according to MEP and PMP president Eugen Tomac, the new alliance sends a unifying message that ”millions of people have been eagerly anticipating”.

(Sebastian Rotaru | Cătălina Mihai | Euractiv.ro)