Poll shows Bucharest mayor likely to gain another term
<p>The first poll after Romania’s ruling coalition changed its strategy and came up with separate candidates shows that Bucharest opposition mayor <strong>Nicusor Dan</strong> (United Right Alliance - ADU) is expected to get another term.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The poll was carried out by Avangarde for the Social Democratic Party (PSD).</p>

<p>PSD and PNL on April 22/23 abandoned the idea of a joint candidate for Bucharest mayoral elections, while this strategy remains in place for some key Romanian cities.</p>

<p>Social Democrat (PSD) candidate Gabriela Firea would get 24% of the votes, 7 percentage points less than Nicusor Dan (31%) but 4 percentage points more than the former challenger of incumbent mayor, Cristian Popescu Piedone (20%), <a href="https://cursdeguvernare.ro/nicusor-dan-31-gabriela-firea-24-piedone-20-sondaj-avangarde.html?mc_cid=081a91410a&amp;mc_eid=cd1f92f96c" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Gursdeguvernare.ro</a> reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Liberal (PNL) candidate Sebastian Burduja (15%) is rated at half the score of the incumbent and leading candidate Nicusor Dan, therefore is not a key player in the single-round elections for Bucharest mayor.</p>

<p>The ruling coalition formed by Social Democrats and Liberals could, in principle, form a majority in Bucharest City Council thanks to their scores (31% and 20%) indicated by the Avangarde poll.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Nicusor Dan said he would seek to keep the alliance formed by his party (ADU, including USR and its allies) and the Liberal Party.</p>

<p>Separately, Avangarde’s poll for the European elections shows the ruling coalition (PSD-PNL) leading with 51% of the votes. Notably, the far-right party AUR is rated at only 11% – less than half of the electoral support of the United Right Alliance (ADU, 26%). Other relevant parties would be SOS Romani (far-right, 2% of the votes) and REPER (the party of former PM, currently MEP Dacian Ciolos).</p>

<p><em>iulian@romania-insider.com</em></p>

<p><em>(Photo source: Inquam Photos/Malina Norocea)</em></p>