Romania's Democratic-Liberal Party Ahead in Poll in Run-up to Nov 30 Elections - Media

The country's largest opposition party, the Social Democrats, PSD, led by former foreign minister Mircea Geoana and former head of state Ion Iliescu, is close behind with a 31% approval rating, showed the poll conducted by the local Center for Urban and Regional Sociology (CURS).

PSD has said it will team up with the Conservative Party for the upcoming elections.

The ruling liberal grouping of Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu, the PNL, polled only 18% in the survey, close to the support it currently enjoys in parliament. Tariceanu has said he will seek a second term in office.

PD-L, formed earlier this year by the Democratic Party, a former PNL government ally, and the Liberal Democrat Party, is soaring in the opinion polls due to its association with Romania's popular President Traian Basescu, whose unrelenting criticism of the government is winning over the electorate.

Basescu polled a 64% approval rating in the CURS survey, the highest among local politicians. He was followed with 62% by Bucharest mayor Sorin Oprescu, a former PSD member and now independent, and PSD leader Mircea Geoana with 40%.