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Romanian President Basescu narrowly wins re-election
Geoana, who claimed victory as soon as the polls closed, did not immediately concede defeat. But his designated candidate for prime minister, Klaus Johannis, appeared to accept the outcome, telling a news conference: “My road ends here.”
The vote was one of the most important for the Balkan state since it executed Stalinist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu 20 years ago, as the victor must name a new government that can restart talks on a stalled 20-billion-euro IMF rescue loan.
The knife-edge outcome sent the leu currency slightly lower against the euro, and analysts said it could extend a political deadlock that put the aid package on ice last month.
The analysts said the abrasive Basescu may struggle to form a government with other major parties with which he repeatedly clashed over anti-corruption measures during his five-year term.
Ordinary Romanians braced for more political turmoil.
“I voted for Basescu, but I think he will continue to fight with other parties,” said Daniel Burst, a 42-year-old guard.
Exit polls on Sunday had shown Geoana in the lead, prompting Social Democrat former President Ion Iliescu to brand the official figures “suspect”. Police said they had registered 194 irregularities, which election officials said included buying votes and multiple voting.
Basescu won more than three-quarters of the 148,000 ballots cast by Romanians living abroad, who backed him heavily in a Nov. 22 first round.
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