NEWS OF THE DAY - MAY 23

Over 18 million voters are expected on Sunday to the polls to designate the 32 representatives of Romania in the European Parliament. The election campaign will end on Saturday at 7:00 a.m., and voters can go the polls on Sunday, from 7:00 a.m. until 09:00 p.m.

Competing in the electoral race are candidates from the electoral Alliance PSD-UNPR-PC, PNL, UDMR, PDL, People's Party — Dan Diaconescu, People's Movement Party, PNTCD, Civic Force, Socialist Alternative Party, National Alliance of Farmers, Greater Romania Party, Green Party, New Republic Party, Social Justice Party and Romanian Ecologist Party. The race includes also eight independent candidates — actor Mircea Diaconu, gymnast Corina Ungureanu, Filip Constantin Titian, Danut Liga, Paul Purea, Pericle-Iulian Capsali, Peter Costea and Valentin-Eugen Daeanu. More than 500 candidates, independent or representing political organizations contend in Sunday's elections for 32 seats in the European Parliament. Thirteen parties, two alliances and eight independent candidates have solicited votes over the 30 days of the campaign.

* Romania's Foreign Ministry (MAE) will open 190 polling stations abroad for Romanian voters in the May 25 European elections. MAE reports that for the May 25 elections, most of these polling stations are in Spain (18), Italy (14) and Moldova (8). Five sections each are opened in the US, Germany, Hungary and Belgium. In Afghanistan, where Romanian troops are deployed, five stations will be open. Polling stations for Romanians in the May 25 European elections are also in Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Senegal, Ethiopia and Palestine. The stations are hosted by embassies, consulates, vice-consular offices and main offices of the Romanian Culture Institute (ICR).
MAE...