FACTBOX: Main political parties in Romania

(Reuters) - Romania holds a parliamentary election on November 30. Following are facts about the three main parties.

DEMOCRAT-LIBERAL PARTY (PD-L)

In opposition since 2007, the centrist PD-L has been the frontrunner in the election for months, drawing much of its support from close links with popular President Traian Basescu.

However, its lead over opposition rivals, the Social Democrat Party (PSD), has eroded in the past week.

Foreign observers say a PD-L government could be Romania's best chance to see more progress in fighting corruption.

The PD-L is most popular among young urban Romanians but with opinion poll ratings above 30 percent it has a broad electorate.

It backs flat tax and wants to join the euro in 2014, but, like its rivals, has also promised to raise budget spending on salaries and pensions.

It promises to speed up privatization and complete the restitution of property confiscated by the former communist regime within two years. It aims to cut back state administration and decentralize schools and hospitals.

The PD-L's candidate for premier is Theodor Stolojan, 65, a former World Bank official who briefly ran a reformist government in the early 1990s.

SOCIAL DEMOCRAT PARTY (PSD)

Heirs to the communist party whose single-party rule was toppled in the 1989 revolution, the PSD governed Romania in 1990-1996 and 2000-2004. It is widely blamed by analysts for allowing corruption to fester and for botched reforms that hampered the transition to a modern market economy.

Two years ago, the party came close to disintegrating after sleaze scandals engulfed its top officials. Few were convicted and trials were blocked by parliament.

The PSD promoted welfare spending at a time when many Romanians felt side-stepped by reforms. It has risen in opinion polls and is now locked in a close race with the PD-L.

The PSD wants to keep the flat-tax rate of 16 percent but says it will consider lowering income taxes for the poorest.

Its candidate for prime minister, Mircea Geoana, 50, is a former Romanian ambassador to Washington. He came to the top of the party in 2005 on a reformist ticket, but has made several blunders in recent months, including promises to pay 20,000 euros to each Romanian who returns from working abroad.

LIBERAL PARTY (PNL)