Romanians choose between incumbent and ex-foreign minister in close presidential runoff

Romanians vote for president in close runoff

BUCHAREST, Romania — Romanians voted Sunday in a hotly contested presidential runoff that could resolve almost two months of political crisis and unfreeze an international loan Romania needs to emerge from recession.

Centrist President Traian Basescu is running for a second five-year term. His main rival is former Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, who heads the leftist Social Democrats and is head of the Senate. Analysts say the race is too close to call.

Both candidates claim they will lift Romania out of its deepest political and economic crisis in 20 years, eradicate corruption and restore public trust. Almost 18 million people are eligible to vote. Voting was brisk with more than 40 percent of voters casting their ballot in the first nine hours, election authorities said.

The first round of elections on Nov. 22 was marred by allegations of multiple voting and votes being bought.

Basescu cast his vote early and wished Romanians who are celebrating St. Nicholas Day a happy holiday.

The 58-year-old president has seen his popularity drop this year due to the economic downturn and political feuding, but still enjoys wide support, especially in rural areas and among the working class.

He takes credit for raising Romania’s international profile by leading the country into the European Union in 2007, and hosting a major NATO summit in 2008 — the high point of his presidency.

Geoana, 51, who served as Romania’s ambassador to the U.S. and then as foreign minister, lacks Basescu’s popular appeal but is seen as a clever negotiator in Romanian politics. His Social Democratic Party, the successor to the Communist Party that ruled Romania for more than 40 years, has a strong grass-roots organization in both rural areas and cities.

Basescu accuses Geoana of being a pawn of media moguls and business players, a charge that has resonated with voters amid Romania’s economic woes.

Geoana, who polled slightly less than Basescu in the first round but was ahead in the most recent opinion poll, said in a Friday interview with The Associated Press that Basescu has fomented political instability and used Romania’s secret services to monitor his opponents.

Basescu’s chances were hurt after a video appeared of him appearing to punch a 10-year-old boy during an election rally in 2004.

Romania’s economy, already in a deep recession, is expected to shrink some 8.5 percent this year with unemployment at more than 7 percent, 3 percentage points higher than last year.

The country is seeking to unlock a €1.5 billion ($2 billion) IMF bailout loan but is unlikely to get one this year due to the instability. The IMF says it will give the loan when Romania has a government in place and a budget for 2010.

Romania has been without a government since Oct. 13 when Parliament dismissed Prime Minister Emil Boc in a no confidence vote.

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Associated Press Writer Alina Wolfe Murray in Bucharest contributed to this report.