ROMANIA'S CONTROVERSIAL MARRIAGE REFERENDUM

ROMANIA began voting Saturday in a referendum on a narrow definition of marriage that the ruling Social Democrats hope will re-energise flagging grassroots support among the country's overwhelmingly Orthodox population.

Nearly 19 million Romanians are entitled to vote in the plebiscite, which aims to alter the wording of  the constitution to define marriage explicitly as between man and woman, rather than simply ''spouses'' as it has stated since 1991.

The ''yes'' vote is widely expected to win, with a new poll on Friday showing as many as 90 percent of people in favor.

The Social Democrat Party [PSD] has opted to let voters also cast their ballots on Sunday to ensure  maximum turnout, as at least 30 percent is required for the result to be valid.

''My Orthodox education and my traditional upbringing make me say ''yes' , PSD strongman Liviu Dragnea said recently.

It was Dragnea, who led the PSD to a sweeping victory in 2016 elections.

But he was unable to run for the post of prime minister due to legal troubles, including a two-year suspended prison sentence for the vote-rigging in a referendum in 2016. [Agencies]