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.

Exit polls predict a tie in Romania’s presidental run-off
vote held on 12 December between outgoing Prime Minister
Adrian Nastase and opposition leader Traian Basescu. The
Romanian central electoral bureau predicts voter turnout at around
53 per cent. The official results are expected during the course
of 13 December.

The Social Democrat Nastase won the first-round
of presidential elections held on 28 November by
collecting 41% of the vote but this fell short of the
50% required for a clear victory. Centrist Democratic Party
leader Basescu took 34% of the 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 (see
also EURACTIV 2 December 2004).

The winner of the election will 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

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