Political analyst: Apathy, main reason of absenteeism in elections, serious debate, messages for undecided, needed

"Apathy" is the main reason why voters do not go to the polls, according to sociologist Gelu Duminica. In his opinion, a "serious political debate" and attracting "the undecided" are the only solutions that could mobilize voters to turn out in greater numbers."I believe we haven't had such an aversion in a long time and people no longer understand anything. [President] Iohannis has been, at least for me, one of the people who have destroyed any idea of electoral debate and serious political debate. We had nothing but mockery. And people, it's logical, have a high apathy. What could one understand if you attack the PSD [the Social Democratic Party, editor's note] but you're in government? Nobody understand anything. (...) Unfortunately, apathy is very high and we see it in all the political debates and hearings we have... This is not an electoral debate. Everybody is trying to keep their own electorate, the hard core. They don't want to make any more mistakes than they have to. The best strategy for this group of candidates is to shut up," sociologist Gelu Duminica told Agerpres.According to him, this year's parliamentary elections could have an even lower turnout than the previous ones in 2020 (31.94% - the lowest turnout in the last 35 years, during the COVID-19 pandemic), also because the elections are scheduled on December 1, Romania's National Day."The big problem is that the parliamentary elections will be held on December 1, because, numerically, we have ranged around there in the last period. That's 9 to 10 million votes. It wasn't bad, let's put it that way. But the reporting was based on astronomical figures. Don't forget that we still think we have 19 million voters. Even though it's December 1, this year could be much worse. Personally, I think it'll be worse, because we don't even have antagonizing candidates. You vote for one so you don't vote for the other. Because our vote has been about antagonizing: we voted for Iliescu not to vote for Vadim, we voted for Iohannis not to vote for Ponta, we voted again for Iohannis not to vote for I don't know whom... for Mrs. Dancila," Gelu Duminica argued.Referring to the presidential elections, the sociologist estimated that in the first round "we will have a turnout about the same as four years ago, maybe with a slight decrease".In his opinion, Romanians will go out to the polls only because, they say, "those elections have to be held", the die "is cast, anyway"."They [the elections, editor's note] must be held, what can we do about it? We go to the polls, we get used to it, all that... Anyway, the die is cast... The question is whom is PSD left with to form the government, as always. And the question of whether or not the UDMR [the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania] gets in. We'll have the same questions as always. As for the rest, in the right-wing there is 'dismay', because we also have these small parties - SENS, REPER, two - three points each means nine - ten points that are taken away from USR and PNL. So the right-wing's situation is disastrous. So the only question is whether PSD achieves figures that start with three or four. Personally I see 32%, 33%, but that's another discussion," said the sociologist.He said that PSD will manage to mobilize "its own core" of voters."Their own core, yes, especially PSD, but PNL - no, because there is a lot of infighting going on and many leaders will secretly conclude deals, I don't think they will mobilize. Especially with the way the lists were made and how they are all made - unlikely. PSD will mobilize its electorate, as always, UDMR will mobilize its electorate, USR - the hard core. The big loser in this story is PNL, unfortunately or fortunately, because maybe it needs something to wake it up a little bit to reality," he said.Gelu Duminica is of the opinion that, in this context, all the candidates benefit from absenteeism."Everyone benefits, because with a high turnout the score and political balance would look different. And no one wants a large representation, because everyone knows that, in fact, no one can make the majority. Because if a large mobilization would be important, there would be a campaign, there would be a debate, all sorts of mechanisms. It is clear that they don't want a serious debate, that they don't want a serious mobilization, being enough that 'my people vote for me'. That's what it's all about," he argued.For Gelu Duminica, however, it is "incomprehensible" why the candidates do not address the undecided."This is fascinating to me. Meaning incomprehensible. Why candidates don't look at the undecided and why they don't target the undecided with their messages. These conservative-traditional messages - see the latest abortion debates - they don't have the power to mobilize the undecided. Under no circumstances. And you're only talking to those who have voted so far. If you looked at the undecided, you would see that they are much more attentive to these messages of individual freedoms, European rights and values and so on. The world doesn't understand or pretends not to understand the dynamics of society. And I'll give you just one example: ten years ago, Bucharest Pride had 800 participants, this year - 30,000. You really don't understand that those people expect a different message. I'm very curious to see what these small parties will do. They've put some well-known civic activists on their electoral lists, because they realize that their only chance is to attract the undecided. They're the only ones, but they have no structures. Imagine what a party with a large structure could have done if it had put on the list, for example, a person like Smaranda Enache. What can we do? This is the level," said Gelu Duminica.As regards the referendum called in Bucharest, proposed by Mayor Nicusor Dan, the sociologist is of the opinion that it will gather the necessary number of votes to be validated."Yes, I'm pretty sure it will. Whether we like it or not, the main political player, at least in Bucharest, is the current mayor. And what he is presenting is the only opposition that the anti-PSD Bucharester sees, Bucharest being, in general, anti-PSD.. So I think the referendum will pass. (...) I repeat, the only ones who could change what is happening are the undecided, who need a candidate with a certain type of moral probity, with a meritocratic professional career, a certain type of discourse," said sociologist Gelu Duminica.