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First round of the presidential election in Romania this Sunday, November 10th. If the liberal president Klaus Iohannis is almost certain to come in first, second place is hard fought. For the first time since the return of democracy at the end of 1989, the PSD is not sure of being present in the second round.
With our special correspondent in Bucharest, Anastasia Becchio
In his large office at the monumental People's House, Social Democrat Senator Titus Corlatean, former Foreign Minister, takes stock before the first round of voting.
His party has suffered a series of setbacks in recent months: there was the bad score for European women, the condemnation in the wake of three and a half years imprisonment of Liviu Dragnea, the strongman of the left, then the motion of distrust of the Viorica Dancila government . However, Titus Corlatean remains optimistic.
" We have some political experience in the field of electoral combat. We knew that if the government fell, of course, there would be some impact, but immediately after the fall of the social democratic government, the political party started to rise. "
Accused of corruption, patronage and wanting to undermine the independence of justice, social democrats have been challenged for many months on the street. They are weakened today, but they maintain a solid electoral base, recalls Cristian Pirvulescu dean of the school of political studies of Bucharest.
" The countryside, the small towns, that is almost half of Romania, is dominated by the PSD. And then, we must not forget that the chairman of the department council is 60% PSD too. "
A base on which the party intends to rely during local and legislative elections next year.
Two other candidates will compete for second place: Dan Barna, leader of a young pro-European party (USR) and former actor Mircea Diaconu.
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