Romania’s ruling party wins election

BUCHAREST - Agence France-Presse

Romania’s center-left governing coalition won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections on Dec. 9, dealing a severe blow to its arch-rival, center-right President Traian Basescu.

The Social-Liberal Union (USL) headed by Prime Minister Victor Ponta, in power since May, took 57 percent of the ballot, exit polls showed. The Right Romania Alliance (ARD), which comprises parties close to Basescu’s camp, trailed far behind on 19 percent, according to the exit poll. Ponta and his USL coalition earned sharp rebukes from the EU and the U.S. in mid-2012 after they attempted to unseat Basescu.