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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Close finish in Romania run-off | Close finish in Romania run-off |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Former Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana is narrowly ahead of President Traian Basescu in the presidential run-off, according to exit polls. | Former Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana is narrowly ahead of President Traian Basescu in the presidential run-off, according to exit polls. |
| Three exit polls suggest Mr Geoana, the leader of the Social Democrats, won just over 50% of the votes, leading Mr Basescu by one to three points. | |
| However, both contenders claimed victory after Sunday's vote. | However, both contenders claimed victory after Sunday's vote. |
| The result of the election is still too close to call, says the BBC's Central Europe correspondent Nick Thorpe. | The result of the election is still too close to call, says the BBC's Central Europe correspondent Nick Thorpe. |
| "We won together. Our victory is the victory of all Romanians who want a better life," Mr Geoana told his jubilant supporters in Bucharest after the polls closed at 2100 local time (1900 GMT). | "We won together. Our victory is the victory of all Romanians who want a better life," Mr Geoana told his jubilant supporters in Bucharest after the polls closed at 2100 local time (1900 GMT). |
| "This is a beautiful night for Romanian democracy," he said. | "This is a beautiful night for Romanian democracy," he said. |
| Centre-right President Basescu also claimed victory, saying exit polls were deceptive. | Centre-right President Basescu also claimed victory, saying exit polls were deceptive. |
| "I won. I assure you that... the correct polls showed that I was ahead of Mircea Geoana," he said. | "I won. I assure you that... the correct polls showed that I was ahead of Mircea Geoana," he said. |
| "My voters need to stay calm and convinced that the counting of votes cannot be subject to fraud," he added. | "My voters need to stay calm and convinced that the counting of votes cannot be subject to fraud," he added. |
| Higher turnout | Higher turnout |
| The exit polls' predictions are based on voter research up to 1700 local time (1500 GMT), our correspondent says. | The exit polls' predictions are based on voter research up to 1700 local time (1500 GMT), our correspondent says. |
| During the first round two weeks ago there was a last-minute flurry of voting, and estimates suggest turnout will be higher than the 54% who cast their ballots then. Votes from Romanians abroad could also influence the outcome. | During the first round two weeks ago there was a last-minute flurry of voting, and estimates suggest turnout will be higher than the 54% who cast their ballots then. Votes from Romanians abroad could also influence the outcome. |
| First official results are expected on Monday. | First official results are expected on Monday. |
| The election campaign was fought against the backdrop of a serious economic crisis in Romania. It has also been marred by personal attacks and allegations. | The election campaign was fought against the backdrop of a serious economic crisis in Romania. It has also been marred by personal attacks and allegations. |
| One of the key roles of the next president will be to appoint a prime minister, as Romania has been led by a caretaker government since October. | One of the key roles of the next president will be to appoint a prime minister, as Romania has been led by a caretaker government since October. |
| The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has delayed the payment of part of a bail-out loan because of the current lack of effective government in Romania. | The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has delayed the payment of part of a bail-out loan because of the current lack of effective government in Romania. |
| Analysts say corruption is still widespread, nearly three years after the country joined the EU. | Analysts say corruption is still widespread, nearly three years after the country joined the EU. |