Exit polls: Romania's Social Democrats in strong lead
Posted December 11, 2016 6:00 am
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - Two exit polls are giving Romania's left-leaning Social Democrats a huge lead in a parliamentary election, a year after a major anti-corruption drive forced the last Socialist prime minister from power.
According to polling institute CURS-AVANGARDE and the Romanian Institute for Evaluation and Strategy, the Social Democratic Party scored about 45 percent while the center-right Liberals came second with about 21 percent of the vote.
The chairman of the Social Democrats, Liviu Dragnea, greeted it cautiously, saying he was "quite satisfied" and "overwhelmed" by what the exit polls predicted, adding "I hope we won't have conflicts in the future."
According to the polls, the Save Romania Union, a new party, which ran on an anti-corruption ticket, came third
Early results are expected early Monday.
A woman exits a voting booth, with European Union flags as curtains, in Baleni Sarbi, Romania, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. Romanians are voting in a parliamentary election, a year after a massive anti-corruption drive forced the last Socialist prime minister from power in a country of about 19 million, one of the poorest in the European Union and perceived as one of the most corrupt. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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A woman exits a voting cabin in Targusoru Nou, Romania, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. Romanians began voting Sunday in a parliamentary election a year after a massive anti-corruption drive forced the last Socialist prime minister from power. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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In this Dec. 8, 2016 picture a man uses a gas burner to clean the skin of a freshly slaughtered pig of hair in Dambu, Romania. Romanians will vote in parliamentary elections on Dec. 11, a year after a massive anti-corruption drive forced its last prime minister Victor Ponta from power, media moguls were imprisoned and one of the leaders of the second biggest party quit over a graft probe.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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An elderly woman cleans a window next to an advertising poster in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, Dec. 9, 2016. Romanians will vote in parliamentary elections on Dec. 11, a year after a massive anti-corruption drive forced its last prime minister Victor Ponta from power, media moguls were imprisoned and one of the leaders of the second biggest party quit over a graft probe. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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A woman exits a voting cabin in Targusoru Nou, Romania, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. Romanians began voting Sunday in a parliamentary election a year after a massive anti-corruption drive forced the last Socialist prime minister from power. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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A woman holds a baby while casting her vote in Sintesti, Romania, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. Romanians are voting in a parliamentary election, a year after a massive anti-corruption drive forced the last Socialist prime minister from power in a country of about 19 million, one of the poorest in the European Union and perceived as one of the most corrupt. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
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A woman casts her vote in Sintesti, Romania, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. Romanians vote in a parliamentary election, a year after a massive anti-corruption drive forced the last Socialist prime minister from power in a country of about 19 million, one of the poorest in the European Union and perceived as one of the most corrupt. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
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An elderly woman exits a voting booth in Sintesti, Romania, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. Romanians are voting in a parliamentary election, a year after a massive anti-corruption drive forced the last Socialist prime minister from power in a country of about 19 million, one of the poorest in the European Union and perceived as one of the most corrupt. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
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An elderly couple enter a voting station in Baleni Sarbi, Romania, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. Romanians are voting in a parliamentary election, a year after a massive anti-corruption drive forced the last Socialist prime minister from power in a country of about 19 million, one of the poorest in the European Union and perceived as one of the most corrupt. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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A woman exits a voting booth in Baleni Sarbi, Romania, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. Romanians vote in a parliamentary election, a year after a massive anti-corruption drive forced the last Socialist prime minister from power in a country of about 19 million, one of the poorest in the European Union and perceived as one of the most corrupt. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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A man exits a voting booth in Baleni Sarbi, Romania, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. Romanians vote in a parliamentary election, a year after a massive anti-corruption drive forced the last Socialist prime minister from power in a country of about 19 million, one of the poorest in the European Union and perceived as one of the most corrupt. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
The Associated Press
A woman exits a voting booth, with European Union flags as curtains, in Baleni Sarbi, Romania, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. Romanians are voting in a parliamentary election, a year after a massive anti-corruption drive forced the last Socialist prime minister from power in a country of about 19 million, one of the poorest in the European Union and perceived as one of the most corrupt. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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An elderly couple examine sample voting bulletins before entering a voting station in Baleni Sarbi, Romania, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. Romanians are voting in a parliamentary election, a year after a massive anti-corruption drive forced the last Socialist prime minister from power in a country of about 19 million, one of the poorest in the European Union and perceived as one of the most corrupt. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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An elderly couple examine sample voting bulletins before entering a voting station in Baleni Sarbi, Romania, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. Romanians are voting in a parliamentary election, a year after a massive anti-corruption drive forced the last Socialist prime minister from power in a country of about 19 million, one of the poorest in the European Union and perceived as one of the most corrupt. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
The Associated Press
A woman exits a voting booth, with European Union flags as curtains, in Baleni Sarbi, Romania, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. Romanians are voting in a parliamentary election, a year after a massive anti-corruption drive forced the last Socialist prime minister from power in a country of about 19 million, one of the poorest in the European Union and perceived as one of the most corrupt. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
The Associated Press
A woman exits a voting booth, with European Union flags as curtains, in Baleni Sarbi, Romania, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. Romanians are voting in a parliamentary election, a year after a massive anti-corruption drive forced the last Socialist prime minister from power in a country of about 19 million, one of the poorest in the European Union and perceived as one of the most corrupt. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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