Romanians hope polls end crisis

Bucharest: Romanians went to the polls to vote for a new president yesterday in an election that could help end a leadership crisis that has threatened an international loan aimed at stopping the country's painful recession.

President Traian Basescu, who represents Romania's political centre, has lost some public support during a first five-year term characterised by a stormy relationship with parliament and a deep economic crisis. His main rival is former Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, who heads the leftist Social Democrats and is head of the Senate.

More than 18 million Romanians were eligible to vote, but none of the dozen candidates is expected to get more than 50 per cent in the first round, and polls showed Basescu with only a slight lead over his main rival.

Run-off likely

That means a run-off election is likely on December 6. Romania slipped into political turmoil when Parliament dismissed the two-party government of Prime Minister Emil Boc on October 13 after a dispute between the coalition partners over control of the Interior Ministry, which oversees the presidential vote.

The Social Democrats said the Liberal Democrats, who are close to Basescu, wanted to run the ministry so they could control the presidential vote and allow election fraud. Parliament then failed to vote on another government, and Boc has run a caretaker government with limited powers since October.

Romania's economy, already in a deep recession, is expected to shrink some 8.5 per cent this year. The International Monetary Fund blocked a $1.5 billion (Dh5.5 billion) loan because Romania does not have a government or 2010 budget.

IMF loan

Romania needs the loan to pay state sector salaries and pensions, but is unlikely to get it before the new year. Some 1.3 million state workers will be forced to take eight days of unpaid leave by the end of 2009.

Basescu called it "one of the most important votes we've had," before about 100 cheering supporters.

Basescu has also called a separate referendum for yesterday to reduce the number of lawmakers and remove one parliamentary chamber, a move that many see as retaliation for parliament's attempt to impeach him in 2005.

Basescu wants a one-chamber parliament with a maximum of 300 lawmakers, down from the current 471. Critics say a smaller parliament would lead to the president having too much power, and harm democracy.