Polls show Romania's isolationist party AUR consolidating leading position

Romania's isolationist party AUR consolidated its leading position in two polls carried out by Avangarde and CURS, although the scores and the advance versus the primary challenger – the Social Democratic Party (PSD) – differ significantly between the two estimates.

The isolationists' leading position, still not challenging the combined score of the four parties in the ruling coalition, comes amid public discontent with the government's activity, understandable given the social impact of the first package of budgetary reform (VAT rate hike, further freezing of pensions and wages) and weak trust in any of the politicians.