BAROMETRUL Informat.ro – INSCOP Research – Edition V. Chapter 3: How Romanians vote based on age | Two-thirds of young people vote, in this order, for AUR, SENS, and USR

BAROMETER Informat.ro - INSCOP Research / Edition V, November 2025

Chapter 3: How Romanians Vote Based on Age

According to BAROMETER Informat.ro – INSCOP Research, edition V, conducted between October 25 – November 2, 2025, the only age category where AUR is not in first place in voting options for parliamentary elections is that of people over 60 years old, who opt for PSD at a rate of 38%.

BAROMETER Informat.ro – INSCOP Research is a monthly opinion poll conducted by INSCOP Research on behalf of the news platform Informat.ro in partnership with the Strategic Thinking Group think tank.

To obtain statistically relevant data on socio-demographic segments, the survey conducted in November focused only on two questions (the direction of the country and voting intention for political parties), but was applied to a significantly larger sample (of 3000 respondents), compared to the usual samples of 1100 respondents for which we typically ask 25-30 questions.

BAROMETER Informat.ro – INSCOP Research aims to bring to public attention topics of interest to stimulate national conversations about various subjects and essential public policies for the present and future of Romania, based on the opinions of Romanians in partnership with think tanks and prestigious academic institutions. It is an initiative through which we aim to contribute to the strengthening of democracy by using scientific and credible tools that bring the voice of citizens to the forefront of public debate.

Methodology: Data was collected between October 25 - November 2, 2025. Research method: interview via questionnaire. Data was collected using the CATI method (telephone interviews), with a simple, stratified sample volume of 3000 people, representative of significant socio-demographic categories (sex, age, occupation) for the non-institutionalized population of Romania, aged 18 and over. The maximum allowable error of the data is ± 1.8%, at a confidence level of 95%.

Remus Ștefureac – director INSCOP Research:

"The Informat.ro – INSCOP Barometer highlights a pronounced polarization between generations. The young and active adult electorate (18-59 years) favors AUR, while the 60+ segment remains oriented in high proportions towards PSD. This difference signals a value-based split between generations formed in distinct socio-political contexts and suggests profound transformations in the model of political socialization.

The contrast between the 18-29 generation (two-thirds of young people vote, in this order, for AUR, SENS, and USR) and those 60+ (two-thirds of seniors vote for PSD and AUR, in this order) illustrates two distinct political continents. Practically, if only young people aged 18-29 were to vote, a non-parliamentary party like SENS would be the second party in Romania, while for those over 60, this party does not exist. If seniors favor stability and social protection, young people express a preference for radical options and clear change. This polarization represents a major challenge for democratic cohesion and for the political system's ability to formulate inclusive policies.

The dominant support for AUR from the age categories 30-44 indicates a possible maturation of an anti-system orientation that transcends situational discontent. The profile of an electorate is emerging that articulates a systemic critique of the post-1989 political order, combining socio-economic claims with elements of nationalism and institutional distrust.

Furthermore, the results of the Informat.ro Barometer – INSCOP reveal the inability of major parties to exceed symbolic thresholds of support among young people and active adults. The weakening of these poles indicates a serious crisis of political representation against the backdrop of diminishing trust in the competence and authenticity of the elites that have dominated the political scene in the last two decades."

How people aged 18-29 vote

If parliamentary elections were to take place next Sunday, 34% of people under 30 would vote for AUR, 16% for SENS, 14% for USR, 13% for PNL, 9% for PSD, 5% for POT, 3% for UDMR, and 3% for SOS Romania. 3% of young people would opt for another party, while no one in this age category stated they would choose an independent candidate.

How people aged 30-44 vote

50% of people aged 30 to 44 would choose to vote for AUR if parliamentary elections were to take place next Sunday. 18% of them opt for USR, 11% for PNL, 8% for PSD, 3% for UDMR, and 3% for POT. 2% would choose another party, 2% an independent candidate, while 1% would vote for SENS and 1% for SOS Romania.

How people aged 45-59 vote

41% of voters aged 45 to 59 express a preference for AUR. 19% of them would choose PNL, 15% PSD, 12% USR, 6% UDMR, 2% POT, 2% SOS Romania, and 1% SENS. 1% would vote for an independent candidate, and 1% for another party.

How people aged 60+ vote

38% of people over 60 would vote for PSD if parliamentary elections were to take place next Sunday. 28% opt for AUR, 15% for PNL, 7% for USR, 5% for UDMR, 3% for POT, 2% for another party, 2% for SOS Romania, and 1% for an independent candidate. No one in this age category stated they would choose the SENS party.

The graphical presentation of the data is available here: BAROMETER Informat.ro – INSCOP Research – Edition V. Chapter 3: How Romanians Vote Based on Age