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Monday, Dec 10, 2012 8:30 AM UTC

Romania gov’t easily wins parliamentary elections

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Romania gov't easily wins parliamentary electionsA woman is followed by a child as she exits a voting cabin on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012. Millions of Romanians braved rain and snow Sunday as they went to the polls for a parliamentary election that center-left government is expected to win, but the result could lead to more of the political instability that has plagued the impoverished Balkan nation this year. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)(Credit: AP)

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Partial results show Romania’s center-left government has overwhelmingly won parliamentary elections, an outcome that could bring more upheaval because of a bitter personal feud between the president and the prime minister.

Election official Marian Muhulet said Monday that the center-left alliance led by Prime Minister Victor Ponta won about 59 percent of the seats in the 452-seat legislature, followed by a center-right group allied to President Traian Basescu that polled just below 17 percent. Some 81.45 percent of the votes have been counted.

A populist party lead by a media tycoon scored about 14 percent in Sunday’s election and an ethnic Hungarian party won just over 5 percent. Other parties did not get the minimum 5 percent.

Despite the clear victory, Basescu has indicated he would not appoint Ponta.

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