Leaders of Romania's governing Social Liberal Union (USL) including Social Democratic PM Victor Ponta Liberal Senate speaker Crin Antonescu claimed victory in the parliamentary elections today, with exit polls showing USL getting over 50% of the votes. They said it was a "victory against the [President Traian] Basescu's regime" and insisted that NATO and EU will remain the "cardinal directions" of Romanian foreign policy. Meanwhile, opposition ARD alliance said they trusted it will reach its 20% target - while reports claim some of ARD leaders might not even enter Parliament.
Crin Antonescu, leader of USL-member National Liberal Party (PNL), said shortly after exit-polls were announced that the parliamentary elections were a "victory against the Basescu regime". And he underlined that NATO and EU membership will remain the "cardinal direction" of Romanian foreign policy.
He said that "without a doubt" PM Victor Ponta, leader of USL-member Social Democratic Party (PSD) will remain as head as government - a reference to taunts by President Basescu that he was not ready to trust Ponta with a new term as prime minister.
Antonescu said the USL program focuses on strengthening and "re-establishing" the rule of law, democracy. Major Western officials have shown criticism of USL's complying with the rule of law and state institutions for the seven months it has been in charge with the government.
Of note is that the USL leaders did not show up for joint statements following the elections. But PSD leader Victor Ponta, speaking from his electoral college in Targu Jiu city, re-affirmed much of what Antonescu said and provided assurances that the USL will stay united after the polls.
Ponta said two thirds of voters in his college voted for him, thus allowing him defeat populist PPDD party leader Dan Diaconescu, who ran for a
