The governing Democratic Liberals (PDL) face major troubles in their efforts to have their candidates take over seats in the Constitutional Court, a body that has a major role to say in the economic and political reforms in Romania and which sparked many controversies recently in key fronts in the fight against corruption.

Mircea Stefan Minea, a PDL candidate for a seat of judge in the Constitutional Court, first received less votes than Social Democratic (PSD, opposition) candidate Valer Dorneanu in a House of Deputies vote.

Then, PDL lost ground against the Liberals (PNL, opposition) in the Senate on Wednesday, as PNL representative Teodor Melescanu received approval from the Senate judicial commission for a seat of judge.

A final decision would be made in a plenary session of the Senate, where PDL holds a fragile majority.