Basescu leads in Romania presidential run-off

Opposition leader Traian Basescu was on the threshhold of winning
Romania’s presidential run-off vote at midday on 13 December.

With slightly over 92% of the ballots counted, Bucharest
Mayor Basescu had 51.75% of the vote compared to Prime Minister
Adrian Nastase’s 48.25%. This translates into a 600,000 vote
lead for the opposition leader over the outgoing prime
minister. Earlier, both candidates claimed victory in a dead heat
vote. 

The presidential run-off vote took place under close scrutiny by
the European Union due to allegations of fraud during
the presidential and parliamentary vote on 28 November.

The winner of the election is set to lead his
country into the European Union. Following the official
conclusion of Romania’s accession negotiations earlier this
month, its accession appears on track to take place in 2007 as
previously planned. The deal is expected to be given political
approval by EU foreign ministers on 14 December and to receive
an official endorsement by the European Council on 16-17
December.

Read more with Euractiv

Romania awaits result of close-run presidential race

The run-off vote for the position of president of Romania is expected to produce a narrow victory for either the outgoing Prime Minister Adrian Nastase or centrist opposition leader Traian Basescu.