The situation in Romania is really interesting. The constitution was amended in 2003 to increase the president term of office from four to five years. However, the legislature’s term remained at four years. Previously, presidential and legislative terms had been concurrent. The last elections were in December 2004. So, this is the first election under the non-concurrent system.

The President is Traian Băsescu. He was the former president of the Democratic Party (PD), which merged with the Liberal Party in January 2008 to form the Democratic Liberal Party (PD-L). Technically, Băsescu is a non-party president because the constitution obliges the president to be so. Nonetheless, the PD-L has stated that it will support his re-election campaign next year. Băsescu was suspended from his office by parliament in April 2007, but a referendum in May struck down the impeachment.

The prime minister is Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu. He is the president of the National Liberal Party (PNL). The outgoing government was initially a coalition of PNL, PD, UDMR and PC. However, first the PC in December 2006 and then the PD in April 2007 left the government. So, there has been a minority government since and the prime minister has often relied on the support of the PSD.

Relations between the president and the prime minister have, to say the least, been strained during the last four years.

In this context, the Romanian Election Commission has released the following results for the 2008 election (Chamber of Deputies reported).

Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Conservative Party Alliance (PC), 33%
Democratic Liberal Party (PD-L), 32.57%
National Liberal Party (PNL), 18.32%
Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), 6.29%
Greater Romania Party (PRM), 3.17%
New Generation Party – Christian Democratic (PNGCD), 2.29%
A number of seats a reserved for representatives of ethnic minorities.

There is a 5% threshold for representation in the Chamber of Deputies.

So, there is no clear result in terms of government formation. Also, next year’s presidential election is already looming and President Băsescu will have this in mind when nominating a prime ministerial candidate. There is a good article outlining some of the coalition options here.