Although candidates ran in 452 constituencies, those who came up second or even third in the vote may receive seats as well, in a system that takes into account the number of votes won by their parties at county or national level. This is how senators and deputies who won a small number of votes end up in Parliament as well. And this is also why in the new term, the number of MPs has gone up from 470 to 588, making the Romanian Parliament even larger than the US Congress.

The system was created in 2008 by the Social Democrats and the Liberals, in order to give more chances to the Liberals, who were in a difficult position at that time, and despite president Traian Basescu’s criticism, it proves quite useful now to his supporters in the Right Romania Alliance. In 2009, the head of state suggested that MP seats should be reduced to 300 and the two chambers should be merged. The initiative was endorsed by over 77% of the Romanians in a referendum held that same year. But the bill did not pass in Parliament.

So, what comes next? Political observers wonder whether the new legislative and executive structures will be operational by the end of the year. The new Parliament may convene by Christmas, and the President may invite parliamentary parties to talks on the appointment of a new prime minister. President Basescu’s decision in this respect is eagerly awaited, given that so far he has made no secret of his reluctance to designate the Social Democrat Victor Ponta, whose nomination is, however, firmly requested by the winners of Sunday’s election, the Social Liberal Union.