Romania: Romania's centrist opposition has made massive opinion poll gains over the ruling ex-communists less than four months ahead of general elections, a survey showed yesterday.
The ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) is struggling to regain ground after disappointing results in June's local polls, which saw it come out first but gave a boost to opposition parties.
The Balkan country holds parliamentary and presidential polls on November 28th, a month before it hopes to wrap up negotiations to join the EU in 2007.
An IMAS poll published by local media showed that an alliance of the opposition Liberals (PNL) and Democrats (PD) rose 17 percentage points to 42.2 per cent from its previous survey in April. The PSD lost 12 points to stand at 35.9 per cent in voters' preferences for parliament.
IMAS polled 1,200 respondents nationwide between July 11th and 19th, with an error margin of 2.9 per cent.
Analysts say PSD's weak results in local elections and its dwindling popularity is a warning signal that the public is getting impatient with sleaze in the poor country of 22 million, 15 years after the fall of communism.
Analysts and opposition politicians have said the PSD must implement radical changes within its ranks and get rid of corrupt politicians who openly display their wealth.
The poll also showed PSD leader Prime Minister Adrian Nastase and his main rival Mr Theodor Stolojan, leader of the PNL, nearly level if they run for the presidency, with 39.3 and 38.2 percent respectively.
Mr Stolojan, who was Romania's second prime minister after the collapse of communism, holds a doctorate in finance and economy and worked for the World Bank. He announced his bid to run for the PNL-PD alliance earlier this year.
The PSD has yet to announce its candidate for president.
Analysts say the PNL-PD alliance, which pledges swift reform to tackle poverty, now looks strong enough to cement a coalition that would end a decade of government by former communists. - (Reuters)