Opposition groups join forces ahead of elections
Overview:
The Romanian government continues to win praise from the IMF and investors for the implementation of a severe fiscal adjustment aimed at reducing economic imbalances. However, public sector wage, pension and employment cuts have predictably caused it to become very unpopular. Opposition parties failed in their attempts last year to bring the government down via successive votes of no confidence. They have now decided instead to join forces as Romania heads into an election period: both local and parliamentary elections will be held in 2012. The opposition umbrella grouping is leading by some way in the opinion polls. Moreover, the worsening global economic environment is not going to give the government the benefit of a strong economic recovery to boost its flagging popularity.