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. Both candidates claim they will lift Romania out of its deepest political and economic crisis in 20 years, eradicate corruption and restore public trust. Polls opened at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and closed at 9 p.m. (1900 GMT), with almost 18 million people eligible to vote.Basescu cast his vote early and wished Romanians who are celebrating St. Nicholas Day a happy holiday.
The 58-year-old president styles himself a patriot with a deep respect for Romanian traditions and awareness of the concerns of average voters.
The former ship’s captain 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 US 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.
