REPORTERNET.COM

Romania's constitutional court overturned a government plan to hold local and parliamentary elections on the same day, dealing a blow to the centrist coalition which had hoped simultaneous polls would help it hang on to power.

Prime Minister Emil Boc, who has been rocked by two weeks of sometimes violent protests against austerity and is trailing in opinion polls, forced the bill through parliament in an attempt to neutralise some of the leftist opposition USL's advantage.
The USL, riding high at 50 percent in opinion polls, would prefer to have the chance to ram home its advantage in local elections, possibly in May, than wait until a parliamentary vote expected in late November 2012.
An earlier local election would also put it in control of more city halls and in a position to have more influence over voting in the national election.
Many voters live far from the capital Bucharest and analysts say local influence can have a significant impact on voting patterns.
The court has not yet issued the reasons for its judgment. The law will now go back to parliament, where the government could yet make adjustments to bring it in line with the constitution.
Thousands have protested around the country against government austerity measures, including state jobs and wage cuts and a higher sales tax, that were taken in 2010 under an International Monetary Fund-led aid deal to shore up public finances and avoid a run on the currency.
The steps have kept investor confidence and rebalanced the economy, but also delayed recovery. Romania remains the European 's second-poorest member, languishing with per capita income at less than half the bloc's average.



(source: www.reuters.com)