Romania's Iohannis in pole position for presidential vote
Reuters
Published Nov 10, 2019 02:04AM ET
Romania's Iohannis in pole position for presidential vote
By Radu-Sorin Marinas
BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanian voters went to the polls on Sunday in a presidential election expected to support incumbent Klaus Iohannis, an anti-graft policymaker who has won praise in the West for his commitment to the rule of law.
Opinion polls show Iohannis, 60, a centrist liberal, winning the ballot with some 40% of the vote. If the polls are correct he will have to face a runoff on Nov. 24, which he is also expected to win.
Romania's president nominates a prime minister, who has executive powers, after holding consultations with political parties. The president can also veto laws adopted by parliament by challenging them in the constitutional court or by sending them back to be re-considered.
Under a succession of Social Democrat governments, the European Union state rolled back anti-corruption rules in recent years, joining the ranks of ex-communist peers Poland and Hungary to face criticism from Brussels over the rule of law.
Iohannis, who won his first term as president in 2014, had challenged a contested overhaul of the judiciary and attempts to limit magistrates' independence.
If elected again, Iohannis will have a chance to install chief prosecutors willing to tackle endemic corruption, supported by the liberal minority government of Prime Minister Ludovic Orban, an ally who won a parliamentary vote of confidence this month.
"I voted for stability. We need stability with a president determined to fight the corrupts," said 72-year-old pensioner Maria Dobre after casting her ballot at a Bucharest school, shortly after polls opened at 0500 GMT.
Iohannis is trailed in the polls by Viorica Dancila, leader of the Social Democrats' and a former premier, and by Dan Barna, head of the centre-right opposition Save Romania Union. Both are vying for a spot in the runoff with about 20% in opinion polls.
Romania has been monitored by Brussels over progress on reform of its judiciary since 2007. In May, Liviu Dragnea, a former PSD leader, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison after being found guilty of graft.
In October the European Commission reported that backtracking from judicial reform and the fight against corruption persisted.
Iohannis spearheaded a national referendum where an overwhelming majority of Romanians said they wanted the government to be banned from altering legislation via emergency decrees, and advocated a national ban on granting amnesties and pardons for graft-related crimes. [nL8N2320LU]
"It's important to have continuity at the helm and I think Iohannis deserves a new term. He ... successfully fought and defeated the PSD. He must continue," said 29-year-old shop clerk Dora Stanga.
Get The News You Want
Observers said a win for Iohannis might bolster the Liberal Party's chance of forming a coalition government after a general election due in 2020 and restore investor confidence eroded by several years of political instability and fiscal largesse.
Polling stations across the country close at 1900 GMT. The country has 18.2 million eligible voters.
Written By: Reuters
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.