page 1 of 2 by Sinziana Demian With national elections looming in Romania, a once-popular president sees his influence wane in local contests. Also see: TIMELINE: A ROCKY ELECTORAL HISTORY BUCHAREST | Sorin Oprescu made history this month when he became the first center-left mayor of post-communist Romania’s capital. His victory, and a similar sweep by a resurgent Social Democratic Party in local elections across the country, could presage an uphill battle in parliamentary contests later this year for the center-right party backed by President Traian Basescu. “It was not I who made history, it was your vote that wrote history today,” Oprescu said after winning office with 56.6 percent of the votes in the second-round mayoral contest on 15 June. “Your vote was stronger than their interests.” Basescu, himself a former Bucharest...
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