Romania’s mainstream political parties appeared on course to retain control of the country’s parliament, exit polls suggested after a general election on Sunday, despite big gains by nationalist far-right groups.

Despite the center-left victory, the strong showing of the far right is significant ahead of the presidency vote on Dec. 8.

Romanians cast ballots Sunday in a parliamentary election sandwiched between a two-round presidential race, the first of which has plunged the European Union and NATO member into unprecedented turmoil following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference.

Romania’s Social Democratic Party looked set to win the most votes in Sunday’s parliamentary election, incomplete data showed, while far-right populists were on track to make significant gains in the country’s legislature.

Posters of various political parties seen on a street in Bucharest, 28 November, 2024

Parliamentary elections in Romania are taking place amid controversies surrounding Călin Georgescu's success in the first round of the presidential elections. The Constitutional Court has suspended the results,

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Bucharest after a far-right populist unexpectedly won the first round of a presidential race, plunging Romania into turmoil just days before the country holds parliamentary elections.