Popular Movement Party

Romania's Constitutional Court on Wednesday annulled legislation adopted by parliament last June that effectively banned gender studies in the educational system.

Romania's parliament passed legislation to regulate offshore gas exploitation in the Black Sea in an unexpected expedited vote late on Monday evening, after months of negotiations and controversy between the government and investors over its financial framework.

Romania's Social Democrat-led government survived a no-confidence motion on Wednesday - but faced more turbulence outside parliament, where thousands of anti-corruption protesters gathered to demand Prime Minister Viorica Dancila's resignation.

Romania's parliament is to discuss a bill that would allow ethnic Romanians from non-EU countries in the Balkans to get jobs in Romania more easily than other non-EU citizens, to meet a growing labour shortage.

MPs from a number of parties submitted the bill to the Senate last week. It must now be discussed by parliamentary commissions and in plenary sessions.

Romania's ruling Social Democrat-led government survived its first impeachment motion in parliament on Thursday, as the opposition, civil society activists and trade unions called for renewed protests against various measures taken by the government this year.

Romanian senators on Thursday voted down amendments to a bill offering an amnesty for graft-related offences, only a day after they had agreed to pass the bill - after activists mobilised on social media calling for renewed protests.

Romania's Social Democratic Party, PSD, won legislative elections on Sunday and is set to designate the next Prime Minister, although it is still unclear if it managed to win a majority in parliament.

According to partial results after 98 per cent of the votes were counted, the PSD won 45.9 per cent, but this result might change after a redistribution of votes.

Romania's centre-left wing Social Democrat Party, PSD, won the country's legislative elections on Sunday, but failed to secure a parliamentary majority, leaving the door open for negotiations on forming a coalition with another parliamentary group.

Almost 19 million Romanians are expected to head to the polls today to a new parliament, amid an expected low voter turnout and with corruption dominating the debate.

Polls opened at 7am and will close at 9pm.

With less than one year before crucial local and parliamentary elections, members of the opposition centre-right Popular Movement, MP, overwhelmingly voted for Basescu as the party's new leader on Saturday.

Basescu, who was president for 10 years from December 2004 until December 2014, said he wanted to continue the work he started when he was in office.