European Elections, Justice Referendum in Romania: Unprecedented turnout

26 May 2019 elections in Romania - for the European Parliament and for a Referendum on the judiciary, initiated by President Klaus Iohannis - have registered a record participation of Romanian citizens, both inside the country and abroad. At 8 pm, turnout for the European Elections at national level was 46.4% and for the Referendum – 39%, by 9% more than needed for the referendum to be valid, according to the Central Election Bureau (BEC).

Referendum

Romanians had to answer with “YES” or “NO” to the following two questions: "Do you support a ban on amnesty and pardon in cases related to corruption?" and "Do you support the ban on adoption by the government of emergency ordinances in the field of crimes, punishments and judicial organization and the extension of the right to appeal directly to the Constitutional Court?" High number of Romanians answered YES to both questions.

President Klaus Iohannis stated that the turnout in the elections for the European Parliament and in the referendum was sensational, adding that Romanians cast a clear and firm vote that cannot be ignored by any politician. "The turnout is sensational. We have around 50 pct turnout for the European Parliament elections and around 40 pct for the referendum. Dear Romanians, I thank you for giving a clear, firm vote that cannot be ignored by any politician in Romania. The referendum passed with flying colors. You voted clearly and firmly for fair politics, for an independent judiciary, for a good governance for Romanians and Romania. I thank you for this turnout at the referendum I called", Iohannis said in a press statement at the Cotroceni Palace. "Following this result, the PSD [Social Democrat Party] government must go. It's a result that cannot be interpreted in any other way". Iohannis added (Agerpres)

European Elections

Romania will have 33 members in the new European Parliament (2019-2024), but according to a European Council decision, one of these seats will only be assigned to Romania after Brexit has taken effect. Romanian Public Television announced first estimative results after voting stopped, based on an opinion poll made by Curs-Avangarde:

• Social Democratic Party (PSD, main government party) - 25.8%

• National Liberal Party (PNL, main opposition party) - 25.8%

• USR-Plus - 23.9% (new alliance of opposition parties)

• Pro Romania - 5.7%

• Hungarian Democrats (UDMR) - 5.4%

• PMP - 5.2%

• ALDE 4.9%.

441 polling stations were opened for the Romanians living abroad, who attended in high numbers and spent most of their day standing in long queues to get to vote. According to Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs, no major incidents were reported during the elections.

European Elections took place as follows:

 23 May: Netherlands, UK

 24 May: Ireland, Czech Republic (which also votes on 25 May)

 25 May: Latvia, Malta, Slovakia

 26 May: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.

Source:RRA,RRI,Agerpres