Romania's left and centre parties both claim right to form government

ROMANIA'S EX-COMMUNIST Social Democrats (PSD) and centrist Liberal Democrats (PDL) are both claiming the right to form a new government after a near dead-heat in Sunday's general election.

With 99.6 per cent of votes counted, the PSD had 33.1 per cent and the PDL had 32.3 per cent, well clear of the right-wing Liberal Party (PNL) of incumbent prime minister Calin Tariceanu with 18 per cent.

Emil Boc, leader of the PDL and a close ally of president Traian Basescu, said voters had "rejected leftist policies as a solution to the crisis that awaits us", in reference to the economic slowdown that is expected to put an end to a period of strong growth in Romania, which joined the European Union last year. Mr Boc's deputy and PDL candidate for the premiership Theodor Stolojan said his party's strong showing would allow it to "to go with our heads high to the president, who is to name the future prime minister".

The PSD rejected the Liberal Democrats claim to form a new coalition, however, and insisted that it would lead the next government. "After we get the vote count this evening, we'll start talks to form the government," PSD leader Mircea Geoana said yesterday.

"We'll hold talks with the other parties and consultations with the president, but the majority will have the final say."

A loose alliance between the PDL and PNL ousted the PSD in 2004, ending its domination of post-communist Romania and plunging it into a period of crisis. It recovered under the leadership of former foreign minister Mr Geoana, however, and benefited from the swift collapse of the liberal coalition and the deterioration of relations between Mr Basescu and Mr Tariceanu, whose feud has been a major factor in Romania's failure to pass many vital reforms.

The PSD, formed by communists who served under dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, is seen as the traditional party of power in provincial Romania, but in big cities and abroad it is widely viewed as the embodiment of the cronyism and corruption that has dogged the country since the 1989 revolution.

Analysts fear Romania's stumbling fight against graft will be crippled if the PSD takes power, and they are unsure how Mr Tariceanu's PNL will use its role as kingmaker - to form an unwieldy coalition with the PSD, or mend fences with Mr Basescu.