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| Romanian rivals 'facing run-off' | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Romania's centre-right President Traian Basescu has won the first round of the country's presidential election but faces a run-off, exit polls suggest. | |
| He got 33-34% of the vote, the polls said, well short of the 50% needed to win outright. Social Democrat Mircea Geoana was second with 31-32%. | |
| The vote is expected to end a political crisis since the fall of PM Emil Boc's centre-right government in October. | |
| Since then Romania has been in the hands of a caretaker government. | |
| The IMF has delayed the payment of part of its bail-out loan to the Eastern European country because of its current lack of effective government. | The IMF has delayed the payment of part of its bail-out loan to the Eastern European country because of its current lack of effective government. |
| 'Fraud' | |
| While casting their votes, the two frontrunners said the election was one of the most important the recession-hit country has had to face. | |
| Twelve candidates in total were standing. If the exit poll findings are confirmed, a second round will be held on 6 December. | |
| A referendum was also held to decide whether to scrap one of the two chambers of parliament and reduce the number of deputies. | |
| However, there have been reports of potential fraud. | |
| More voters than normal appeared to be casting their vote at special centres set up for citizens who had been forced to vote away from their normal residences because they were travelling, the Associated Press news agency reported. | |
| More than 305,000 people were expected to vote at these type of locations according to the Electoral Committee. | |
| However Adriean Videanu, the country's economy minister said election authorities in Moara Vlasie were "overwhelmed" because of "electoral tourism", AP reported. | |
| Reforms | Reforms |
| This is Romania's first presidential election as a member of the European Union. More than 18 million people were eligible to vote. | |
| Mr Basescu, who has been president for five years, wants a mandate to overcome what he says is the blocking of his political reforms by opposition parties. | Mr Basescu, who has been president for five years, wants a mandate to overcome what he says is the blocking of his political reforms by opposition parties. |
| Mr Geoana - a former US ambassador and foreign affairs minister - is offering voters an ambitious economic stimulus package. | Mr Geoana - a former US ambassador and foreign affairs minister - is offering voters an ambitious economic stimulus package. |
| The winner will appoint a new premier and have an influence on long-delayed reforms aimed at bringing the country up to EU standards. | The winner will appoint a new premier and have an influence on long-delayed reforms aimed at bringing the country up to EU standards. |
| Analysts say corruption is still widespread in Romania, nearly three years after the country joined the EU. | Analysts say corruption is still widespread in Romania, nearly three years after the country joined the EU. |