AUR leads CURS poll at 34%, while 77% of Romanians say the country is on the wrong track

Voting intentions

A CURS survey carried out between 22 and 27 October 2026 puts the Alliance for the Unification of Romanians (AUR) first with 34% of voting intentions. The Social Democratic Party (PSD) is second at 26%, and the National Liberal Party (PNL) third at 16%. The Save Romania Union (USR) is credited with 8% and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) with 5%. The Partidul Naționalist Reformarea României, associated with Piedone, and SENS each stand at 3%, SOS România and Conservative Action (ACT) at 2%, and other parties together at 1%. The interviews were conducted by telephone with 1,068 adults, and the pollster gives a maximum margin of error of ±3% at a 95% confidence level. The figures are declared intentions at the time of fieldwork, not a forecast of an election result.

AUR34%

PSD26%

PNL16%

USR8%

UDMR5%

Reformarea României (Piedone)3%

SENS3%

SOS România2%

ACT2%

Other parties1%

AUR

34 %

PSD

26 %

PNL

16 %

USR

8 %

UDMR

5 %

Reformarea României (Piedone)

3 %

SENS

3 %

SOS România

2 %

ACT

2 %

Other parties

1 %

Data from the article text

Government and the PSD question

The poll was taken in the first days of the government led by Luca Niculescu. Parliament gave that government its confidence vote on 20 October, with 280 votes in favour and 58 against. PSD holds 11 of the cabinet's 17 ministries, including Interior, Transport, Health, Labour and Justice. Asked whether PSD's decision to take part in the government was correct, 25% said to a very large extent and 13% to a large extent, while 34% said to a small extent and 23% to a very small extent. Another 5% gave no answer. Taken together, 38% judge the decision correct to a large or very large extent, and 57% judge it correct only to a small or very small extent. CURS sociologists said the answers were concentrated at the "to a small extent" and "to a very large extent" ends of the scale.

Direction of the country and public priorities

77% of respondents believe Romania is heading in the wrong direction, while 18% see the right direction and 5% have no opinion. Respondents were asked which priorities the Niculescu government should set and could choose more than one, so the answers add up to more than 100%. Reducing prices and the cost of living tops the list at 41%, followed by raising wages and pensions at 39% and cutting taxes and charges at 27%. Cutting the budget deficit and state spending was named by 23%, public administration reform by 22%, better health and education services by 21%, and more investment and economic growth by 13%. CURS summed up the findings in one line:

“The results show that the main concerns of the population are linked to living standards and purchasing power.”

Cut prices and cost of living41%

Raise wages and pensions39%

Cut taxes and charges27%

Cut budget deficit and state spending23%

Public administration reform22%

Better health and education21%

Investment and economic growth13%

Cut prices and cost of living

41 %

Raise wages and pensions

39 %

Cut taxes and charges

27 %

Cut budget deficit and state spending

23 %

Public administration reform

22 %

Better health and education

21 %

Investment and economic growth

13 %

Data from the article text

Background and timing

In a CURS poll published on 23 September, AUR had the same score as in this survey, while PSD was one point lower, according to HotNews. The current fieldwork ran from 22 to 27 October, and the results were reported in Romanian media on 29 October. The Niculescu government's confidence vote on 20 October falls between the two polls and the start of fieldwork. The timeline below marks these dates.