ELECTORAL BEHAVIOUR AT THE 2009 AND 2014 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN HARGHITA, COVASNA AND MUREŞ COUNTIES

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1 Analele Universităţii din Oradea, Seria Geografie Year XXV, no. 1/2015 (June), pp ISSN , E-ISSN Article no ELECTORAL BEHAVIOUR AT THE 2009 AND 2014 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN HARGHITA, COVASNA AND MUREŞ COUNTIES George-Bogdan TOFAN Vasile Goldiş Western University of Arad, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Engineering and Informatics, Departament of Biology, Ecology and Geography, Baia Mare Branch, 5 Culturii Street, Romania, tofanbogdan_geografie@yahoo.com Adrian-Florin NIŢĂ Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Geography, Gheorgheni Branch, Romania, nitaadrian@hotmail.com Bogdan-Nicolae PĂCURAR Centre for Research on Settlements and Urbanism, Faculty of Geography, Babeș-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca; Cluj County Council, Urbanism and Territorial Planning Department, Cluj-Napoca, pacurarbogdan@ymail.com Abstract: This study represents a synthesis of the electoral behaviour exhibited by the population of Harghita, Covasna and Mureş counties, at the 2009 presidential elections, held on 22nd November (first tour) and 6th December (second tour), and at the presidential elections of 2014 (first tour, 2nd November, and second tour, 16th November). In terms of candidates, the following occured: in 2009, first tour, with 12 candidates, from which only Traian Băsescu and Mircea Geoană proceeded to the second round, and 14 candidates in the first round of the 2014 elections (10 of them from political parties and alliances). The second round was defined by the first two candidates with the highest number of votes, which were Victor-Viorel Ponta and Klaus-Werner Iohannis. Key words: the President of Romania, polling stations, void votes, turnout. * * * * * * INTRODUCTION Research on electoral geography and especially on the geography of presidential elections emerged in the 1990s, the first studies being conducted by Pop, 1992, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2010; Ilieş, 1998; Creţan, 1999, 2006; Bodocan, 2001; Boamfă, 2011; Iaţu, 2013 and Giugăl, 2013, which proposed several research models in this new field, located between science and politics, an interesting, dynamic, and almost inexhaustible area of study. The first author of the endeavour (G. B. Tofan) is at his third study regarding the electoral behaviour of the inhabitants of Harghita, Covasna and Mureş counties (Tofan, 2013; Tofan & Timariu, 2013). The results of the presidential elections will come to light after the analysis, synthesis and intepretation of the statistical data provided by the Central Electoral Bureau of Corresponding Author

2 Electoral Behaviour at the 2009 and 2014 Presidential Elections in Harghita 89 Romania and by the Permanent Electoral Authority. The three analysed counties, each one an electoral district (no. 15-Covasna; no. 21- Harghita and no. 28-Mureş), encompass 10 cities, 15 towns and 189 communes. THE ELECTORAL BEHAVIOUR AT THE 2009 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS At the presidential elections of 2009, there were two electoral rounds, as follows: -for the first round (22nd November 2009), 12 representatives from a large political spectre formally applied for the mandate of President of Romania: Constantin-Ninel Potîrcă, Independent Candidate, George-Crin-Laurențiu Antonescu, National Liberal Party, George Becali, New Generation Party - Christian Democratic, Kelemen Hunor, Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania, Corneliu Vadim-Tudor, Greater Romania Party, Mircea-Dan Geoană, Social Democratic Party-Conservative Party, Traian Băsescu, Liberal Democratic Party, Ovidiu-Cristian Iane, Romanian Ecologist Party, Sorin-Mircea Oprescu, Independent Candidate, Remus-Florinel Cernea, Green Party, Constantin Rotaru, Socialist Alternative Party and Gheorghe-Eduard Manole, Independent Candidate. The total number of votes in the three counties mentioned above was Most votes were attributed to the following candidates: Kelemen Hunor, 43.63% ( votes), who won in the counties with a Hungarian majority, that is Harghita (71.24%, votes) and Covasna (52.79%, votes), followed by Băsescu Traian, 22.06% ( votes), who obtained the highest number of votes in Mureș County ( votes, 27.45%,), Geoană Mircea-Dan, 13.48% ( votes), third place in Harghita and Mureș counties, and fourth place in Covasna County, Antonescu George-Crin-Laurențiu, 12.06% ( votes), third place in Covasna County, and fourth in Harghita and Mureș counties, and Vadim-Tudor Corneliu, 4.33% ( votes), fifth place in all three counties, according to the valid votes. The following seven candidates, in terms of votes won, were: Oprescu Sorin-Mircea (1.26%, votes), Becali George (1.26%, votes), Cernea Florinel Remus (0.63%, votes), Rotaru Constantin (0.45%, votes), Potîrcă Constantin-Ninel (0.38%, votes), Manole Gheorghe-Eduard (0.20%, 864 votes) and Iane Ovidiu-Cristian (0.18%, 809 votes). The candidate of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania, Kelemen Hunor, won the highest number of votes in 139 polling stations (65.42%, from a total of 214 localities), most being situated in Harghita County (60), with percentages of over 90% in settlements like Căpâlnița, Cârța, Ciceu, Ciucsângeorgiu, Dănești, Lunca de Jos, Mădăraş, Sândominic, Sânmartin, Sântimbru and Tomești, followed by Mureș County (42), with percentages of over 80% in Acățari, Bereni, Chibed, Hodoșa, Neaua și Păsăreni, and then in Covasna (37), with percentages exceeding 70% in Arcuș, Bixad, Bodoc, Brateș, Catalina, Cernat, Comandău, Dalnic, Estelnic, Ghelința, Lemnia, Mereni, Micfalău, Moacșa, Poian, Reci, Sânzieni, Turia and Vârghiș. Traian Băsescu, the Liberal Democratic Party's representative, came second in Harghita (12.70%, votes) and Covasna counties (19.77%, votes), but defeated Kelemen Hunor in Mureș County, with a total score of 27.45%. At station level (cities, towns and communes), Băsescu Traian won the most votes in 48 stations (22.42% of a total of 214 localities), 38 in Mureș County, with more than 40% in Sighișoara, Luduș, Băgaciu, Batoș, Chețani, Cozma and Daneș (the last registering the highest percentage, 58.60%), Hodac, Miheșu de Câmpie, Nadeș, Pogăceaua, Răstolița, Râciu, Șăulia, Viișoara and Zagăr, then in six polling stations located in Harghita, with more than 35% (Sărmaș, Corbu, Subcetate, Gălăuțaș, Toplița), but only 29.55% in Tulgheș, while in the County of Covasna, Traian Băsescu won the highest number of votes in four polling stations in Belin (46.05%), Vâlcele (41.50%), Dobârlău (40.90%) and Hăghig (37.52%). Mircea-Dan Geoană, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party-Conservative Party alliance, won 13.48% of the total number of votes (57 873), his best position (third place) being in Mureș County (18.51%, votes) and Harghita (5.69%, votes), while in the County of Covasna (9.86%, votes) he only managed to attain the fourth place.

3 90 George-Bogdan TOFAN, Adrian NIŢĂ, Bogdan-Nicolae PĂCURAR Figure 1. The distribution of votes per main candidates during the first round of the 2009 presidential elections, Harghita County (Data source: Central Election Bureau of Romania, author: G. B. Tofan) At city and commune level, Mircea-Dan Geoană managed to obtain the highest scores in 19 stations (9.34%), 14 being located in Mureș County (Tăureni, 65.89%, Grebenișu de Câmpie, 50.33%, Fărăgău, 58.11%, Ideciu de Jos, 45.26%, Iclănzel, 44.48%, Ibănești, 40.67%, Apold, 40.65%, Sânpetru de Câmpie, 40.07%, Solovăstru, 39.63%, Lunca, 38.58%, Rușii Munți, 37.21%, Beica de Jos, 36.00%, Sânger, 29.94% and Suseni, 29.74%), four in Covasna (Valea Mare, 49.40%, Barcani, 47.87%, Întorsura Buzăului, 34.17% and Sita Buzăului, 34.15%), while in Harghita, he won most votes only in Bilbor (45.11%), a commune with a Romanian majority.

4 Electoral Behaviour at the 2009 and 2014 Presidential Elections in Harghita 91 Figure 2. The distribution of votes per main candidates during the first round of the 2009 presidential elections, Covasna County (Data source: Central Election Bureau of Romania, author: G. B. Tofan) The fourth candidate, if we take into consideration the number of votes won, was George- Crin-Laurențiu Antonescu, with a percentage of 12.06% (51 796) of the people's votes, his best position (third place) being in Covasna (9.89%, votes), but only fourth place in Mureș (16.05%, votes) and Harghita (5.44%, votes) counties. At regional level, he won in eight stations, all in Mureș County (Crăiești, 47.60%, Zau de Câmpie, 42.26%, Ungheni, 35.69%, Band, 35.33%, Cucerdea, 32.45%, Gurghiu, 28.67%, Sărmașu, 36.87% and Ogra, 27.14%. As an absolute majority was not obtained by neither candidates, a second round of elections was organised (on 6th December 2009). The remaining candidates were the incumbent president, Traian Băsescu (32.44%, votes at national level) and his main opponent, the representative of the Social Democratic Party - Conservative Party political alliance, Mircea-Dan Geoană (31.15%, votes).

5 92 George-Bogdan TOFAN, Adrian NIŢĂ, Bogdan-Nicolae PĂCURAR Figure 3. The distribution of votes per main candidates during the first round of the 2009 presidential elections, Mureş County (Data source: Central Election Bureau of Romania, author: G. B. Tofan) In all three counties, there were votes, out of which in Covasna, in Harghita and in Mureș. During the second round, most votes were favourable to Traian Băsescu % (out of a total of votes, were from Mureș, from Harghita and from Covasna), well above the national percentage (50.33%, votes for Traian Băsescu), while Mircea-Dan Geoană had 46.12% ( votes, with in Mureș, in Harghita and in Covasna), below the national average (49.66%, votes).

6 Electoral Behaviour at the 2009 and 2014 Presidential Elections in Harghita 93 Figure 4. Vote distribution in Covasna County, during the second round of the 2009 presidential elections (Data source: Central Election Bureau of Romania, author: G. B. Tofan) In terms of void votes, their percentages were between 1.44% and 2.16%, with higher values in Mureș and Covasna. In urban areas, Traian Băsescu won 52.38% of the votes ( ), that is 28.23% of the votes from the entire region. Meanwhile, Mircea-Dan Geoană managed a score of 52.35% of the urban vote, or 24.14% of his votes from the region. Out of the 25 cities and towns in the region, 17 had a majority who voted for Traian Băsescu, the highest values (over 60%) being in small towns, with less than inhabitants: Borsec (69.40%), Băile Tușnad (69.08%), Târgu Secuiesc (65.44%), Covasna (65.00%), Luduș (61.64%) and Gheorgheni (61.27%).

7 94 George-Bogdan TOFAN, Adrian NIŢĂ, Bogdan-Nicolae PĂCURAR Figure 5. Vote distribution in Mureş County, during the second round of the 2009 presidential elections (Data source: Central Election Bureau, author: G. B. Tofan) Mircea Geoană won the majority in seven small towns (Întorsura Buzăului, 51.07%, Bălan, 58.61%, Miercurea Nirajului, 57.43%, Sângeorgiu de Pădure, 62.36%, Sărmașu, 51.80%, Sovata, 51.47% and Ungheni, 51.35%), and in Târgu Mureș (55.06%). The victory of Traian Băsescu was defined by different values at county level, that is 51.20% in Mureș, 56.43% in Harghita, but 59.78% in Covasna. In Harghita, out of the total of valid votes, were won by Traian Băsescu (56.43%), that is votes in urban areas (26.19%), most of them in Miercurea Ciuc and Odorheiu Secuiesc, while in rural areas the final tally was (30.24%), most in Praid commune.

8 Electoral Behaviour at the 2009 and 2014 Presidential Elections in Harghita 95 Figure 6. Vote distribution in Harghita County, during the second round of the 2009 presidential elections (Data source: Central Election Bureau, author: G. B. Tofan) Mircea Geoană won votes (43.57%), out of which in urban areas (43.82%), with a majority only in Bălan (1 289 votes, 58.61%), and votes in rural areas (56.18%), especially in Bilbor, where a majority of votes was attained. In Covasna, out of a total of valid votes, were won by Traian Băsescu (59.79%), (53.24%) in urban areas, with a majority of votes in 4 of the 5 urban settlements, with the exception of Întorsura Buzăului (48.92%, votes) and (46.76%) in rural areas, while Mircea Geoană (40.21%, ), had percentages of over 50% in Barcani (62.81%), Brăduț (52.44%), Estelnic (66.66%), Mereni (55.06%), Micfalău (50.99%), Poian (56.00%), Sânzieni (51.16%), Sita Buzăului (53.19%), Turia (53.07%) and Valea Mare (50.78%).

9 96 George-Bogdan TOFAN, Adrian NIŢĂ, Bogdan-Nicolae PĂCURAR In the County of Mureș, out of votes, Traian Băsescu was first with 51.20% ( votes), the rest of 48.80% ( ) being won by Mircea Geoană. Out of the 102 polling stations, 56 (54.90%) were won by Traian Băsescu, while 46 (45.10%) by Mircea Geoană. If we take a look at the urban-rural situation, Mircea Geoană clearly won in cities and towns (55.18%, votes, meaning 29.93% of his votes at county level, while Băsescu had 54.72%, votes), which represents 28.08% of his votes at county level, but at rural level the situation changed, with Băsescu at 45.28%, and Geoană at 44.82%. ELECTORAL BEHAVIOUR AT THE 2014 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS According to the Government's Decision no. 502/2014, the 2014 elections for the President of Romania were set on Sunday, 2nd November In line with the Constitution of Romania, Article 83, the presidency mandate is set at five years, with a single possibility for reelection. In the first round of the 2014 presidential elections, 14 candidates joined the fight, 10 being proposed by political parties or alliances. Thus, the candidates were as follows (in the order of their registration): Victor-Viorel Ponta, the Social Democratic Party-the National Union for Romania-Conservative Parties Electoral Alliance; Klaus-Werner Iohannis, the Christian Liberal Alliance; Honor Kelemen, Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania; Elena-Gabriela Udrea, the Popular Movement Party; William-Gabriel Brînză, the Romanian Ecologist Party; Constantin Rotaru, the Socialist Alternative Party; Corneliu Vadim-Tudor, Greater Romanian Party; Cristian- Dan Diaconescu, the People's - Dan Diaconescu Party; Zsolt Szilágy, the Hungarian People's Party of Transylvania, and Mirel-Mircea Amariţei, PRODEMO Party, plus a host of independent candidates (Monica-Luisa Macovei, Călin-Constantin-Anton Popescu Tăriceanu, Gheorghe Funar and Teodor-Viorel Meleşcanu), candidatures backed by at least people. If we take into consideration all three counties, the total number of people registered on the permanent electoral lists was electors ( in Harghita, in Covasna and in Mureş), out of which electors turned out to vote, that is 45.81% (Covasna, , 43.12%; Harghita, , 44.07%; Mureş, , 47.81%). The total number of votes was ( in Covasna, in Harghita and in Mureş), the final tally for the first round of elections being: Hunor Kelemen, votes (39.15%), Klaus-Werner Iohannis, (22.97%), Victor-Viorel Ponta, (19.02%), Zsolt Szilágy, (6.23%), Elena-Gabriela Udrea, (2.86%). The remaining votes (9.76%) went to the following candidates: Cristian-Dan Diaconescu, (2.07%); Călin-Constantin-Anton Popescu-Tăriceanu, (2.01%), Monica-Luisa Macovei, (1.91%), Corneliu Vadim-Tudor, (1.87%), Gheorghe Funar, (0.80%), Teodor-Viorel Meleşcanu, (0.46%), William-Gabriel Brînză, (0.27%), Constantin Rotaru, (0.26%) and Mirel-Mircea Amariţei, 270 (0.06%). At county level, Hunor Kelemen claimed first place in Harghita (62.96%) and in Covasna (50.41%), and third place in Mureş (22.96%). At city, town and commune level, the representative of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania won in 133 stations (62.15%), 58 in Harghita, with percentages of over 90% solely in his native commune, Cârţa (90.47%), followed by: Atid, Ciceu, Dăneşti, Joseni, Ocland, Racu, Remetea, Sâncrăieni, Tuşnad, Zetea etc., with percentages between 70-90%, while the percentages in urban centres were between 50-70%, for example Miercurea Ciuc, Gheorgheni, Odorheiu Secuiesc, Cristuru Secuiesc, Vlăhiţa, and below 50% in Băile Tuşnad, 46.80% and Borsec, 34.55%). In Covasna County, Hunor Kelemen won a majority of votes in 38 stations, with very high percentages in rural areas, between 70-90% (Arcuş, Băţani, Catalina, Cernat, Dalnic, Lemnia, Poian, Turia, etc), but lower values in urban areas - between 50-70%, in Târgu Secuiesc, 57.65% and Baraolt, 56.19%, and below 50%, in Sfântu Gheorghe, 43.19% and Covasna, 35.54%. In the polling stations located in Mureş County, the Hungarian representative lost to Klaus- Werner Iohannis and Victor-Viorel Ponta, claiming only 35 rural settlements (Acăţari, Bereni,

10 Electoral Behaviour at the 2009 and 2014 Presidential Elections in Harghita 97 Fântânele, Hodoşa, Neaua, Veţca, etc) and two urban settlements (Sângeorgiu de Pădure, 54.11% and Sovata, 58.61%). Figure 7. Vote distribution per main candidates during the first round of the 2014 presidential elections, Harghita County (Data source: Central Election Bureau, author: G. B. Tofan) The Christian-Liberal Alliance, comprised of the National Liberal Party and the Liberal Democratic Party, represented by Klaus-Werner Iohannis, came first in Mureş with 32.02%, gaining a majority of votes in 37 polling stations. In seven urban centers, Klaus-Werner Iohannis had percentages below 50% (Târgu Mureş, Reghin, Sighişoara, Târnăveni, Iernut, Sărmaş and Ungheni). He obtained between 50-70% only in seven rural areas (Cozma, Crăieşti, Daneş, Nadeş, Sânger, Valea Largă and Viişoara).

11 98 George-Bogdan TOFAN, Adrian NIŢĂ, Bogdan-Nicolae PĂCURAR Figure 8. Vote distribution per main candidates during the first round of the 2014 presidential elections, Covasna County (Data source: Central Election Bureau, author: G. B. Tofan) In the County of Covasna, the Liberal Alliance came second (14.96%), with a majority of votes only in Întorsura Buzăului (39.11%), and third in Harghita (10.76%), with a majority below 50%, only in three Romanian settlements, located in the northern part of Giurgeu Depression (Sărmaş, 35.52%, Topliţa, 37.25% and Subcetate, 39.07%). Victor-Viorel Ponta, the candidate from the Social Democratic Party - National Union for Romania - Conservative Parties Electoral Alliance, obtained his best position in Mureş (second place) with 26.49%, with a vote majority in 31 stations, out of which a single one was urban (Luduş, 38.17%), while in nine rural areas he obtained rather significant percentages (50-70%), in places like: Băla, Deda, Fărăgău, Grebenişu de Câmpie, Iclănzel, Lunca, Ruşii Munţi, Şăulia, Tăureni. Ponta came third in Covasna, with 13.69%, with a majority in six stations: Barcani, Dobârlău, Hăghig, Sita Buzăului, Vâlcele (all below 50%), and Valea Mare (50.81%).

12 Electoral Behaviour at the 2009 and 2014 Presidential Elections in Harghita 99 Figure 9. Vote distribution per main candidates during the first round of the 2014 presidential elections, Mureş County (Data source: Central Election Bureau, author: G. B. Tofan) Its lowest position (fourth place) was in Harghita, with an insignificant 8.12%, most votes (below 50%) being won in six stations, with a Romanian majority (Bălan, Bilbor, Corbu, Gălăuţaş, Tulgheş and Voşlăbeni). We would like to point out that none of the other 11 candidates obtained a vote majority in the three analysed counties. As, at national level, the 14 candidates did not manage to obtain a majority, a second round of elections was organised on the 16th November 2014, when only the first two candidates with the most votes advanced. These two candidates were Victor-Viorel Ponta ( votes at national level, 40.44%) and Klaus-Werner Iohannis, with , 30.37%). If we aggregate the valid votes obtained by the above mentioned candidates, for

13 100 George-Bogdan TOFAN, Adrian NIŢĂ, Bogdan-Nicolae PĂCURAR the three counties in question, we have a reversal of the national situation: Klaus-Werner Iohannis, votes (22.96%) and Victor-Viorel Ponta, votes (19.02%). In terms of the entire region, the total number of voters was out of which in Harghita, in Covasna and in Mureş, the turnout being 53.50% ( voters), higher than the first round (45.81%). In the second round, the population of these three counties voted heavily with Klaus- Werner Iohannis, votes, (73.22%), with a clear victory in every urban area, while Victor- Viorel Ponta won votes (26.78%), gaining majorities in some rural areas (Bilbor, Valea Mare, Vâlcele, Deda, Fărăgău, Miheşu de Câmpie, Ruşi Munţi, Şăulia, Sânpaul and Tăureni). In Harghita, vote turnout was 47.83%, higher than the one registered during the first round (44.07%), but lower than the national average. Out of a total of valid votes, people (79.79%) voted for Klaus Iohannis, even if in some Romanian settlements, such as Bălan, Corbu, Gălăuţaş, Tulgheş, Voşlăbeni, people voted for Victor Ponta during the first round. The only polling station consistent in their vote was Bilbor (50.43%). The County of Covasna registered a higher turnout during the second round (49.85%), compared to 43.12% in the first round, but at national level it had, alongside Harghita, one of the lowest turnouts. Significant votes for Iohannis, as he obtained out of the votes a 77.96% percentage (70 713) compared to 22.04% (19 997) for Ponta. Out of the six rural settlements (Barcani, Dobârlău, Hăghig, Sita Buzăului, Vâlcele, Valea Mare), who voted for Ponta during the first round, only the last two remained loyal" during the second round of elections. The same phenomenon took place in Mureş, with a 58.06% turnout (compared to 47.81% during the first round). Out of the valid votes, votes (68.64%) went to Iohannis, encompassing all urban areas, while Ponta obtained votes (31.36%), won only in rural areas (Deda, Fărăgău, Miheşu de Câmpie, Ruşii Munţi, Şăulia, Sânpaul and Tăureni). CONCLUSIONS If we compare the electoral behaviour at the 2009 and the 2014 presidential elections regarding the number of votes and their territorial distribution, several aspects come to light: - at both elections, the first round was clearly won by Kelemen Hunor, who came first in Harghita as well as in Covasna according to the number of valid votes (71.24% and 52.79% in 2009 and 62.96% in Harghita and 50.41% in Covasna in 2014); - another important aspect is the one concerning the high number of polling stations where Kelemen Hunor won the majority (139 locations in 2009 and 133 in 2014, with percentages of over 90% in Ciuc Depression); - in the counties of Harghita and Covasna, the social democratic and liberal democratic candidates won the most votes solely in settlements with a Romanian majority (Bilbor, Corbu, Tulgheş, Topliţa, Gălăuţaş, Sărmaş, Subcetate, Valea Mare, Barcani, Întorsura Buzăului, Sita Buzăului); - in Mureş, ever since the first round of elections, first place was claimed by a Romanian candidate (Traian Băsescu, 27.45% and Klaus-Werner Iohannis, 32.02%); - in 2009, during the first round of elections, the left wing candidate, Geoană Mircea-Dan, came third in Mureş and Harghita, and fourth in Covasna; the situation somewhat repeated itself in 2014, when Victor-Viorel Ponta came second in Mureş, third in Covasna and fourth in Harghita; - during the second tour of the 2009 elections, the vote ratio between the two candidates was more balanced compared to the second round of the 2014 elections, when Iohannis won the majority in almost every polling stations, with ethe exception of some rural areas, such as: Bilbor, Vâlcele, Valea Mare, Deda, Fărăgău, Miheşu de Câmpie, Ruşii Munţi, Şăulia, Sânpaul and Tăureni;

14 Electoral Behaviour at the 2009 and 2014 Presidential Elections in Harghita 101 Figure 10. Vote distribution in Harghita County during the second round of the 2014 presidential elections (Data source: Central Election Bureau, author: G. B. Tofan) - in terms of the votes obtained by the first two candidates during the first round of the 2014 presidential elections, in all three counties, there was a reversal of the situation at national level, meaning: Klaus Iohannis % while Victor Ponta only 19.02%; - vote turnout was very low both in 2009 as well as in 2014, Harghita and Covasna occupying the last places at national level; however, the population of these areas showed slightly more interest in the second round held on 16th November 2014 (47.83% in Harghita; 49.85% in Covasna; 58.06% in Mureş) compared to the second round of the 2009 presidential elections (Harghita 36.98%; 37.61% Covasna; Mureş).

15 102 George-Bogdan TOFAN, Adrian NIŢĂ, Bogdan-Nicolae PĂCURAR Figure 11. Vote distribution in Covasna County during the second round of the 2014 presidential elections. (Data source: Central Election Bureau, author: G. B. Tofan).

16 Electoral Behaviour at the 2009 and 2014 Presidential Elections in Harghita 103 Figure 12. Vote distribution in Mureş County during the second round of the 2014 presidential elections (Data source: Central Election Bureau, author: G. B. Tofan) REFERENCES Boamfă I. (2011), Orientation of the Voters in the Presidential Election in Romania , Forum geografic. Studii şi cercetări de geografie şi protecţia mediului, vol. 10, Issue 2, Craiova. Bodocan V. (2001), Etnie, confesiune şi comportament electoral în Transilvania. Studiu geografic, Editura Presa Universitară Clujeană, Cluj-Napoca. Creţan R. (1999), Etnie, confesiune şi comportament electoral în Banat (Sfârşitul sec. al XIX şi sec. al XX-lea). Studiu geografic, Tipar Universitatea de Vest, Timişoara. Creţan R. (2006), Etnie, confesiune şi opţiune electorală în Banat. Structuri teritoriale, tradiţie, actualitate, Ediţia a II-a,

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