Romanian opposition gains from street protests-poll

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:10 GMT

Source: reuters // Reuters

BUCHAREST, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Romania's main opposition group would win a parliamentary majority in an election, an opinion poll showed on Monday, as protests rock Prime Minister Emil Boc's Democrat-Liberal Party (PDL).

Thousands of Romanians have rallied against austerity measures and falling living standards in the European Union's second poorest country. The protests are now in their third week, although the numbers have thinned as temperatures have fallen to minus 20 degrees Celsius.

The survey, conducted by pollster IMAS for daily Adevarul, showed an opposition alliance of Social Democrats and Liberals (USL) would poll 53.4 percent, up from 49.2 percent in a December poll.

The PDL would win 15.8 percent of votes, from 21.5 percent in December. A parliamentary election is expected in November.

The PDL polled 33 percent in the last election in 2008 but its ratings have been hit by painful measures to shore up public finances to conclude a 20-billion-euro aid deal led by the International Monetary Fund, including cutting state wages by a quarter and raising value added tax.

The newly formed People's Party led by media tycoon Dan Diaconescu, advocating populist measures including tax cuts, also benefited from the protests, with 13.9 percent.

An ethnic Hungarian party (UDMR), one of Boc's coalition partners, would garner 5.8 percent of votes. But a second partner, the National Union for Romania's Progress, would poll below the 5 percent threshold needed to win seats.

The survey, conducted between Jan. 11-17, has a margin of error of plus/minus 3 percent. DATE INSTITUTE USL PDL PPDD UDMR

Jan 2012 IMAS 53.4% 15.8% 13.9% 5.8%

Dec 2011 IMAS 49.2% 21.5% 11.8% 5.7%

Nov 2011 Gallup/Soros 55.0% 18.0% 9.0% 7.0%

June 2011 Gallup/Soros 52.0% 19.0% 9.0% 6.0%

Notes: USL - the opposition alliance of Social Democrats and Liberals PDL - the centrist, ruling Democrat-Liberal party PPDD - Populist People's Party of media tycoon Dan Diaconescu UDMR - Ethnic Hungarian party, junior ruling coalition member

(Reporting by Luiza Ilie)

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