Romanian presidential election, 2009
Encyclopedia
The first round of 2009 Romanian presidential elections was held in Romania
on 22 November and a run-off round
between Traian Băsescu
and Mircea Geoană
was held on 6 December 2009. Although most exit polls favored Geoană in the runoff, the authorities declared Băsescu the narrow victor with 50.33% of the votes. However, the opposition contests the results, citing a "high number of void ballots, modified voting protocols, and massive electoral tourism", vowing to challenge the result in the constitutional court
. OSCE declared that the election "was held generally in line with OSCE commitments", but also urged the authorities to investigate claims of fraud.
On 8 December, the Social Democratic Party submitted their request to annul and repeat the presidential election run-off to the Constitutional Court, saying the election was rigged. On 14 December, the Constitutional Court repelled the request after recounting all the annulled vote.
Simultaneously with the first round, a referendum was held
on introducing a unicameral parliament of up to 300 deputies instead of the current bicameral parliament. The referendum was declared valid after 50.16% of the registered voters expressed their opinion, and exit polls indicate over 70% support for the reforms.
(formally independent
, but supported by PD-L
and the official fraction of PNŢ-CD
, led by Marian Miluţ), Mircea Geoană
(PSD
), Crin Antonescu
(PNL
and the contender fraction of PNŢ-CD
, led by Radu Sârbu
), Hunor Kelemen
(UDMR
) and Corneliu Vadim Tudor
(PRM
). Mayor of Bucharest
Sorin Oprescu
(formerly PSD member) announced his candidacy as an independent candidate on 5 October 2009; Băsescu also had been mayor of Bucharest before becoming president.
Radu, Prince of Hohenzollern-Veringen, husband of Princess Margarita of Romania
first announced his candidacy to the office of President
on 9 April 2009, but later withdrew.
, offered different ways to tackle the economic crisis, Romania being in the grip of severe recession with the economy expected to contract eight percent in 2009. While Geoană offered to increase investment to beat the recession and promised "vigorous measures" such as building affordable flats for young people and giving cheap credits to enterprises in order to help create jobs, Băsescu pledged to cut public spending. Băsescu also promised more equity to people living in the countryside. Christian Mititelu, a political commentator quoted by the BBC, argued that due to extremely vigorous political strife there was no real campaign debate about how the economy should recover or on the structure of the next year's budget, and that the public were not sufficiently aware of these economic issues, while the contenders did not attempt to communicate and involve the public in such decisions.
Băsescu tried to portray himself as the champion of the people against what he called "the corrupt political elite". A widely used election poster carried the text: "They cannot avoid what they are afraid of". Băsescu's opponents countered that he is part of that elite, simply with different backers. In a Cluj-Napoca
meeting with supporters he claimed he "was the one to stop doubtful privatisations", implicitly accusing rival Social-Democrats of underhand practices while in power. He vowed to fight against the Parliament, which blocked his bid to install the Croitoru cabinet, and the "media moguls". In the campaign for the first round, his favorite campaign theme was reducing the number of lawmakers. This theme proved popular with the overwhelming majority of the electorate voting for the reduction of the number of lawmakers from current 471 to a maximum of 300, and in favor of a transition from the current bicameral Parliament to an a unicameral one in a referendum held simultaneously with the first round of elections
. One of Basescu's favorite themes is his fight against parliament and media moguls such as businessmen Dan Voiculescu
, Sorin Ovidiu Vîntu, and Dinu Patriciu
, politicians Ion Iliescu
, Viorel Hrebenciuc
, and Marian Vanghelie
.
The main counter-candidate, Geoană, on the other hand, described himself as a "man of dialogue", who can "restore Romania's unity", allegedly "jeopardized" by Basescu. A former ambassador to the United States, former foreign minister, and a seasoned diplomat, Geoană edged aside more powerful figures in his Social Democratic party.
In the first round held on 22 November, Băsescu came first with 32.44% of the votes, and Geoană second with 31.15%. According to a BBC
analyst a victory by Geoană would be caused by the numerous enemies Băsescu has made during his tenure, especially in the media. One the other hand, a victory of the incumbent could be generated by his counter-candidate alleged lack of "human touch", and because doubts remain over his ability to control the "red barons" in his own party. Crin Antonescu
[of the National Liberals who scored third with 20.02%] was the first choice of all those who are fed up with Băsescu but could not bring themselves to vote Socialist. His voters hold the key to victory on 6 December.
Although Băsescu claimed the results of the first round were "a significant vote for the right" because he and Crin Antonescu
together received over 50% of the vote, the next day Antonescu refused to back Băsescu in the runoff, and shortly thereafter announced an alliance with Geoană. Subsequently Băsescu reproached Antonescu to "have thrown himself in the arms of the Social-Democrat party, a party opposed to reforms", and added "This alliance will bring us back to 20 years ago when the PSD was controlling all state institutions". Antonescu in turn called Băsescu "a demagogue and a populist", and vowed to support Geoană as "the lesser of two evils".
Mircea Geoană has promised to appoint Klaus Johannis
as Prime Minister of Romania
if he is elected President. Johannis is the candidate supported by a majority in the Parliament of Romania
. Romania has had a caretaker government since the government of Emil Boc
fell on 13 October. The parliament rejected Traian Băsescu
's nomination of Lucian Croitoru
for new Prime Minister on 4 November.
Note:
1. The percentage on row b is calculated from row a
2. The percentages on rows c and d are calculated from b
Source: Biroul Electoral Central
with his PNL
, Béla Markó
with his UDMR
and George Becali with his PNG decided to support Mircea Geoană
—the candidate of the Social Democratic Party
+ Conservative Party
Alliance—in the second round. Sorin Oprescu
decided not to support anyone and Corneliu Vadim Tudor
with his PRM
—at national level—called his voters to boycot the runoff round, however the PRM in Sibiu county decided to support Geoană. Geoană announced he would nominate Klaus Iohannis as prime minister if he won.
Both runoff candidates declared themselves winners after tight exit polls. On Monday, 7 December 2009 at 8 am, BEC published the first official partial results, after having counted the votes from 95.4% of the total of 21706 poll stations. According to these partial results, Traian Băsescu
had achieved 50.43% of the total eligible votes, while Mircea Geoană
got the rest of 49.57%. The official partial results tallied at 10:16 am (Monday, 7 December 2009) attested that Traian Băsescu
achieved 50.37% of the total eligible votes and Mircea Geoană
49.62%. A majority of 78.86% the votes from abroad, fully counted in this tally, went for Băsescu (115,831 to 31,045). Some 94% of the estimated 200,000 Moldova
ns with Romanian citizenship who voted in the election cast their vote for Basescu, who has been a vocal advocate of Moldovans' right to regain Romanian citizenship. Following final results, Sibiu mayor Klaus Iohannis announced that he is abandoning his bid to become prime minister in the current situation. Romanian stock markets fell to a four-month low after the official results were announced, deepening a political crisis that threatens ties with international lenders.
announced that the Social Democrats will contest the elections at the Constitutional court and will submit evidence of electoral fraud. PSD Secretary General Liviu Dragnea cited "a high number of void ballots, modified voting protocols, and massive electoral tourism". Dragnea stated: "Romanians voted for Mircea Geoana, but Basescu's state apparatus is trying to make him the presidential winner through fraud". Former Prime Minister Adrian Năstase
and former President Ion Iliescu
both stated that they doubted the results.
Mircea Geoana has also stated that the Social Democrats exclude any collaboration with Basescu and his party, and maintain the majority with the Liberals and Hungarian Democrats, while Crin Antonescu also stated that the Liberal Party excludes "any participation in a Traian Basescu puppet government"
On 11 December, in an unprecedented decision the Constitutional Court decided to recount all 138,476 invalid votes. After 137,613 invalid votes recounted, only 2,137 were revalidated (1.6% of recounted invalid votes), 1,169 votes for Traian Basescu and 968 for Mircea Geoana.
On 14 December, the Constitutional Court rejected the request to repeat the presidential elections, paving the way to validate Băsescu's election. The same day, Geoana admitted defeat and wished Basescu good luck in his second term in office.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
on 22 November and a run-off round
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
between Traian Băsescu
Traian Basescu
Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004...
and Mircea Geoană
Mircea Geoana
Dan Mircea Geoană is a Romanian politician, who served as president of the upper chamber of the Romanian Parliament, the Senate from December 20, 2008 until he was revoked by the senators on November 23, 2011. From 21 April 2005 until 21 February 2010 he was the head of the Partidul Social...
was held on 6 December 2009. Although most exit polls favored Geoană in the runoff, the authorities declared Băsescu the narrow victor with 50.33% of the votes. However, the opposition contests the results, citing a "high number of void ballots, modified voting protocols, and massive electoral tourism", vowing to challenge the result in the constitutional court
Constitutional Court of Romania
The Constitutional Court of Romania is the institution which rules on whether the laws, decrees or other bills enacted by Romanian authorities are in conformity with the Constitution....
. OSCE declared that the election "was held generally in line with OSCE commitments", but also urged the authorities to investigate claims of fraud.
On 8 December, the Social Democratic Party submitted their request to annul and repeat the presidential election run-off to the Constitutional Court, saying the election was rigged. On 14 December, the Constitutional Court repelled the request after recounting all the annulled vote.
Simultaneously with the first round, a referendum was held
Romanian parliamentary reform referendum, 2009
A referendum on modifying the size and structure of the Parliament from the current bicameral one with 137 senators and 334 deputies to a unicameral one with a maximum of 300 seats was held in Romania on 22 November 2009, at the same time as the first round of the 2009 presidential election...
on introducing a unicameral parliament of up to 300 deputies instead of the current bicameral parliament. The referendum was declared valid after 50.16% of the registered voters expressed their opinion, and exit polls indicate over 70% support for the reforms.
Candidates
There are twelve candidates of which three run as independents. The candidates of the major parties are: the incumbent Traian BăsescuTraian Basescu
Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004...
(formally independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
, but supported by PD-L
Democratic Liberal Party (Romania)
The Democratic Liberal Party is a populist, centre-right party in Romania. It was formed on 15 December 2007, when the Democratic Party merged with the Liberal Democratic Party. From 2004 to 2007, the Democratic Party was part of the governing Justice and Truth Alliance...
and the official fraction of PNŢ-CD
Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party (Romania)
The Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party is a Romanian Christian-Democratic party...
, led by Marian Miluţ), Mircea Geoană
Mircea Geoana
Dan Mircea Geoană is a Romanian politician, who served as president of the upper chamber of the Romanian Parliament, the Senate from December 20, 2008 until he was revoked by the senators on November 23, 2011. From 21 April 2005 until 21 February 2010 he was the head of the Partidul Social...
(PSD
Social Democratic Party (Romania)
The Social Democratic Party is the major social-democratic political party in Romania. It was formed in 1992, after the post-communist National Salvation Front broke apart. It adopted its present name after a merger with a minor social-democratic party in 2001. Since its formation, it has always...
), Crin Antonescu
Crin Antonescu
George-Crin-Laurenţiu Antonescu is a Romanian politician, currently serving as President of the National Liberal Party . He was a candidate for the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2009. He is a member of the Senate, his election having taken place during the 2008 legislative election...
(PNL
National Liberal Party (Romania)
The National Liberal Party , abbreviated to PNL, is a centre-right liberal party in Romania. It is the third-largest party in the Romanian Parliament, with 53 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 22 in the Senate: behind the centre-right Democratic Liberal Party and the centre-left Social...
and the contender fraction of PNŢ-CD
Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party (Romania)
The Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party is a Romanian Christian-Democratic party...
, led by Radu Sârbu
Radu Sârbu
Radu Sîrbu is a Romanian singer. He was part of the Romanian pop music trio O-Zone...
), Hunor Kelemen
Hunor Kelemen
Hunor Kelemen is a Romanian politician and Hungarian language writer. The current president of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania , he has been a member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies since 2000, and was nominated as his party's candidate for the 2009 presidential election,...
(UDMR
Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania
The Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania, is the main political organisation representing the ethnic Hungarians of Romania....
) and Corneliu Vadim Tudor
Corneliu Vadim Tudor
Corneliu Vadim Tudor is leader of the Greater Romania Party , writer, journalist and a Member of the European Parliament...
(PRM
Greater Romania Party
The Greater Romania Party is a Romanian radical right-wing, ultra-nationalist political party, led by Corneliu Vadim Tudor. The party is sometimes referred to in English as the Great Romania Party....
). Mayor of Bucharest
Mayor of Bucharest
The Mayor of Bucharest , sometimes known as the General Mayor, is the head of the Bucharest City Hall in Bucharest, Romania, which is responsible for city-wide affairs, such as the water system, the transport system and the main boulevards...
Sorin Oprescu
Sorin Oprescu
Sorin Mircea Oprescu is a Romanian independent politician and medical doctor who is currently serving as Mayor of Bucharest.-Political activity:...
(formerly PSD member) announced his candidacy as an independent candidate on 5 October 2009; Băsescu also had been mayor of Bucharest before becoming president.
Radu, Prince of Hohenzollern-Veringen, husband of Princess Margarita of Romania
Princess Margarita of Romania
Princess Margarita of Romania , also styled as Crown Princess of Romania, Custodian of the Romanian Crown, former Princess of Hohenzollern, is the eldest daughter of Michael I , King of Romania , former Prince of Hohenzollern, and of his wife, Anne of Bourbon-Parma...
first announced his candidacy to the office of President
President of Romania
The President of Romania is the head of state of Romania. The President is directly elected by a two-round system for a five-year term . An individual may serve two terms...
on 9 April 2009, but later withdrew.
Campaign
The main contenders, incumbent Băsescu and the President of the Parliament Mircea GeoanăMircea Geoana
Dan Mircea Geoană is a Romanian politician, who served as president of the upper chamber of the Romanian Parliament, the Senate from December 20, 2008 until he was revoked by the senators on November 23, 2011. From 21 April 2005 until 21 February 2010 he was the head of the Partidul Social...
, offered different ways to tackle the economic crisis, Romania being in the grip of severe recession with the economy expected to contract eight percent in 2009. While Geoană offered to increase investment to beat the recession and promised "vigorous measures" such as building affordable flats for young people and giving cheap credits to enterprises in order to help create jobs, Băsescu pledged to cut public spending. Băsescu also promised more equity to people living in the countryside. Christian Mititelu, a political commentator quoted by the BBC, argued that due to extremely vigorous political strife there was no real campaign debate about how the economy should recover or on the structure of the next year's budget, and that the public were not sufficiently aware of these economic issues, while the contenders did not attempt to communicate and involve the public in such decisions.
Băsescu tried to portray himself as the champion of the people against what he called "the corrupt political elite". A widely used election poster carried the text: "They cannot avoid what they are afraid of". Băsescu's opponents countered that he is part of that elite, simply with different backers. In a Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
meeting with supporters he claimed he "was the one to stop doubtful privatisations", implicitly accusing rival Social-Democrats of underhand practices while in power. He vowed to fight against the Parliament, which blocked his bid to install the Croitoru cabinet, and the "media moguls". In the campaign for the first round, his favorite campaign theme was reducing the number of lawmakers. This theme proved popular with the overwhelming majority of the electorate voting for the reduction of the number of lawmakers from current 471 to a maximum of 300, and in favor of a transition from the current bicameral Parliament to an a unicameral one in a referendum held simultaneously with the first round of elections
Romanian parliamentary reform referendum, 2009
A referendum on modifying the size and structure of the Parliament from the current bicameral one with 137 senators and 334 deputies to a unicameral one with a maximum of 300 seats was held in Romania on 22 November 2009, at the same time as the first round of the 2009 presidential election...
. One of Basescu's favorite themes is his fight against parliament and media moguls such as businessmen Dan Voiculescu
Dan Voiculescu
Dan Voiculescu is a Romanian politician and former business man. He is the Vicepresident of the Romanian Senate and founding president of the Conservative Party in Romania. ....
, Sorin Ovidiu Vîntu, and Dinu Patriciu
Dinu Patriciu
Dan Costache "Dinu" Patriciu , is a billionaire businessman and entrepreneur with a long standing involvement in real estate. In 1998 he led an investor buyout of the previously state-owned Romanian oil company, Rompetrol...
, politicians Ion Iliescu
Ion Iliescu
Ion Iliescu served as President of Romania from 1990 until 1996, and from 2000 until 2004. From 1996 to 2000 and from 2004 until his retirement in 2008, Iliescu was a Senator for the Social Democratic Party , whose honorary president he remains....
, Viorel Hrebenciuc
Viorel Hrebenciuc
Viorel Hrebenciuc is a Romanian statistician and politician. A member of the Social Democratic Party , he has been a member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies for Bacău County since 2000.-Biography:...
, and Marian Vanghelie
Marian Vanghelie
Daniel Marian Vanghelie is a Romanian politician of Jewish and Gypsy descent, being the mayor of the 5th Sector of Bucharest since 2000 and a prominent member and vice-president of the ....
.
The main counter-candidate, Geoană, on the other hand, described himself as a "man of dialogue", who can "restore Romania's unity", allegedly "jeopardized" by Basescu. A former ambassador to the United States, former foreign minister, and a seasoned diplomat, Geoană edged aside more powerful figures in his Social Democratic party.
In the first round held on 22 November, Băsescu came first with 32.44% of the votes, and Geoană second with 31.15%. According to a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
analyst a victory by Geoană would be caused by the numerous enemies Băsescu has made during his tenure, especially in the media. One the other hand, a victory of the incumbent could be generated by his counter-candidate alleged lack of "human touch", and because doubts remain over his ability to control the "red barons" in his own party. Crin Antonescu
Crin Antonescu
George-Crin-Laurenţiu Antonescu is a Romanian politician, currently serving as President of the National Liberal Party . He was a candidate for the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2009. He is a member of the Senate, his election having taken place during the 2008 legislative election...
[of the National Liberals who scored third with 20.02%] was the first choice of all those who are fed up with Băsescu but could not bring themselves to vote Socialist. His voters hold the key to victory on 6 December.
Although Băsescu claimed the results of the first round were "a significant vote for the right" because he and Crin Antonescu
Crin Antonescu
George-Crin-Laurenţiu Antonescu is a Romanian politician, currently serving as President of the National Liberal Party . He was a candidate for the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2009. He is a member of the Senate, his election having taken place during the 2008 legislative election...
together received over 50% of the vote, the next day Antonescu refused to back Băsescu in the runoff, and shortly thereafter announced an alliance with Geoană. Subsequently Băsescu reproached Antonescu to "have thrown himself in the arms of the Social-Democrat party, a party opposed to reforms", and added "This alliance will bring us back to 20 years ago when the PSD was controlling all state institutions". Antonescu in turn called Băsescu "a demagogue and a populist", and vowed to support Geoană as "the lesser of two evils".
Mircea Geoană has promised to appoint Klaus Johannis
Klaus Johannis
Klaus Werner Iohannis is a Romanian politician of German origin. Since 2000 he has been the mayor of the Transylvanian city of Sibiu, representing the small centrist Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania. He has been re-elected by landslide votes in 2004 and 2008...
as Prime Minister of Romania
Prime Minister of Romania
The Prime Minister of Romania is the head of the Government of Romania. Initially, the office was styled President of the Council of Ministers , when the term "Government" included more than the Cabinet, and the Cabinet was called The Council of Ministers...
if he is elected President. Johannis is the candidate supported by a majority in the Parliament of Romania
Parliament of Romania
The Parliament of Romania is made up of two chambers:*The Chamber of Deputies*The SenatePrior to the modifications of the Constitution in 2003, the two houses had identical attributes. A text of a law had to be approved by both houses...
. Romania has had a caretaker government since the government of Emil Boc
Emil Boc
Emil Boc is the Prime Minister of Romania, having served since December 2008. In June 2004, he was elected Mayor of Cluj-Napoca, the largest city in Transylvania. Boc is also the president of the Democratic Liberal Party, who designated him as Prime Minister in 2008. On October 13, 2009, his...
fell on 13 October. The parliament rejected Traian Băsescu
Traian Basescu
Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004...
's nomination of Lucian Croitoru
Lucian Croitoru
Lucian Croitoru is a Romanian economist. On October 15, 2009, following the defeat of Emil Boc's government through a motion of no confidence, President Traian Băsescu nominated Croitoru to be Prime Minister of Romania...
for new Prime Minister on 4 November.
Results
| First round | % | Runoff | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a. Expected voters: | 18,293,277 | 18,303,224 | ||
| b. Turnout(1): | 9,946,748 | 54.37 | 10,620,116 | 58.02 |
| c. Total valid votes(2): | 9,718,840 | 97.70 | 10,481,568 | 98.69 |
| d. Total invalid votes(2): | 227,446 | 2.28 | 138,476 | 1.30 |
Note:
1. The percentage on row b is calculated from row a
2. The percentages on rows c and d are calculated from b
Source: Biroul Electoral Central
Second round
After the first round, Crin AntonescuCrin Antonescu
George-Crin-Laurenţiu Antonescu is a Romanian politician, currently serving as President of the National Liberal Party . He was a candidate for the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2009. He is a member of the Senate, his election having taken place during the 2008 legislative election...
with his PNL
National Liberal Party (Romania)
The National Liberal Party , abbreviated to PNL, is a centre-right liberal party in Romania. It is the third-largest party in the Romanian Parliament, with 53 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 22 in the Senate: behind the centre-right Democratic Liberal Party and the centre-left Social...
, Béla Markó
Béla Markó
Béla Markó is a Romanian politician and writer of Hungarian ethnicity. The former leader of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania , he is also the Deputy Premier in the Emil Boc government ; he had also been Minister of State in the Tăriceanu cabinet between 2004 and 2007, in charge of...
with his UDMR
Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania
The Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania, is the main political organisation representing the ethnic Hungarians of Romania....
and George Becali with his PNG decided to support Mircea Geoană
Mircea Geoana
Dan Mircea Geoană is a Romanian politician, who served as president of the upper chamber of the Romanian Parliament, the Senate from December 20, 2008 until he was revoked by the senators on November 23, 2011. From 21 April 2005 until 21 February 2010 he was the head of the Partidul Social...
—the candidate of the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (Romania)
The Social Democratic Party is the major social-democratic political party in Romania. It was formed in 1992, after the post-communist National Salvation Front broke apart. It adopted its present name after a merger with a minor social-democratic party in 2001. Since its formation, it has always...
+ Conservative Party
Conservative Party (Romania)
The Conservative Party of Romania is a political party formed in 1991, after the fall of Communism, under the name of the Romanian Humanist Party . From 2005 until December 3, 2006, the party was a junior member of the ruling coalition...
Alliance—in the second round. Sorin Oprescu
Sorin Oprescu
Sorin Mircea Oprescu is a Romanian independent politician and medical doctor who is currently serving as Mayor of Bucharest.-Political activity:...
decided not to support anyone and Corneliu Vadim Tudor
Corneliu Vadim Tudor
Corneliu Vadim Tudor is leader of the Greater Romania Party , writer, journalist and a Member of the European Parliament...
with his PRM
Greater Romania Party
The Greater Romania Party is a Romanian radical right-wing, ultra-nationalist political party, led by Corneliu Vadim Tudor. The party is sometimes referred to in English as the Great Romania Party....
—at national level—called his voters to boycot the runoff round, however the PRM in Sibiu county decided to support Geoană. Geoană announced he would nominate Klaus Iohannis as prime minister if he won.
Both runoff candidates declared themselves winners after tight exit polls. On Monday, 7 December 2009 at 8 am, BEC published the first official partial results, after having counted the votes from 95.4% of the total of 21706 poll stations. According to these partial results, Traian Băsescu
Traian Basescu
Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004...
had achieved 50.43% of the total eligible votes, while Mircea Geoană
Mircea Geoana
Dan Mircea Geoană is a Romanian politician, who served as president of the upper chamber of the Romanian Parliament, the Senate from December 20, 2008 until he was revoked by the senators on November 23, 2011. From 21 April 2005 until 21 February 2010 he was the head of the Partidul Social...
got the rest of 49.57%. The official partial results tallied at 10:16 am (Monday, 7 December 2009) attested that Traian Băsescu
Traian Basescu
Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004...
achieved 50.37% of the total eligible votes and Mircea Geoană
Mircea Geoana
Dan Mircea Geoană is a Romanian politician, who served as president of the upper chamber of the Romanian Parliament, the Senate from December 20, 2008 until he was revoked by the senators on November 23, 2011. From 21 April 2005 until 21 February 2010 he was the head of the Partidul Social...
49.62%. A majority of 78.86% the votes from abroad, fully counted in this tally, went for Băsescu (115,831 to 31,045). Some 94% of the estimated 200,000 Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
ns with Romanian citizenship who voted in the election cast their vote for Basescu, who has been a vocal advocate of Moldovans' right to regain Romanian citizenship. Following final results, Sibiu mayor Klaus Iohannis announced that he is abandoning his bid to become prime minister in the current situation. Romanian stock markets fell to a four-month low after the official results were announced, deepening a political crisis that threatens ties with international lenders.
Official partial results
| Time | Votes Counted | Băsescu Traian Basescu Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004... |
Geoană Mircea Geoana Dan Mircea Geoană is a Romanian politician, who served as president of the upper chamber of the Romanian Parliament, the Senate from December 20, 2008 until he was revoked by the senators on November 23, 2011. From 21 April 2005 until 21 February 2010 he was the head of the Partidul Social... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | 95.4% | 50.43% | 49.57% |
| 10:16 | 99.13% | 50.37% | 49.62% |
| 14:00 | 99.95% | 50.33% | 49.66% |
| 14:45 | 100% | 50.33% | 49.66% |
Opinion polls
Note: Opinion polls have been criticised in this election for their unreliability, with large differences in results obtained between different polling agencies.First round
| Polling Firm | Date | Source | Băsescu Traian Basescu Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004... |
Geoană Mircea Geoana Dan Mircea Geoană is a Romanian politician, who served as president of the upper chamber of the Romanian Parliament, the Senate from December 20, 2008 until he was revoked by the senators on November 23, 2011. From 21 April 2005 until 21 February 2010 he was the head of the Partidul Social... |
Antonescu Crin Antonescu George-Crin-Laurenţiu Antonescu is a Romanian politician, currently serving as President of the National Liberal Party . He was a candidate for the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2009. He is a member of the Senate, his election having taken place during the 2008 legislative election... |
Oprescu Sorin Oprescu Sorin Mircea Oprescu is a Romanian independent politician and medical doctor who is currently serving as Mayor of Bucharest.-Political activity:... |
Tudor Corneliu Vadim Tudor Corneliu Vadim Tudor is leader of the Greater Romania Party , writer, journalist and a Member of the European Parliament... |
Kelemen | Others | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSS | 16 May 2009 | http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/33446/basescu_leads_voting_intention_in_romania | 30.8% | 24.3% | 20.3% | 5.5% | N/A | 7.8% | 5% | |
| CURS | 26 June 2009 | http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/33801/basescu_is_most_popular_candidate_in_romania | 36% | 24% | 20% | 11% | 2% | 3% | N/A | |
| INSOMAR | 12 July 2009 | http://www.evz.ro/articole/detalii-articol/861008/INSOMAR-Basescu-scade-Geoana-creste-/ | 35.7% | 29.6% | 16.8% | 11.9% | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Gallup Romania | 16–20/07/09 | http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/33888/romanians_could_grant_basescu_a_new_term | 35% | 18% | 20% | 10% | 3% | N/A | N/A | |
| CCSB | 17–19/09/2009 | http://www.politico.ro/stiri/ultima-ora/sondaj-ccsb-crin-antonescu-ar-reusi-sa-intre-in-turul-al-doilea-cu-basescu-geoana-a-fost-depasit-i.html | 34% | 18% | 19% | 12% | 7% | 1% | N/A | N/A |
| INSOMAR | 8–11/10/09 | http://www.realitatea.net/insomar--mircea-geoana-l-ar-invinge-pe-traian-basescu-in-turul-ii_642637.html | 33.4% | 28.5% | 14.5% | 8.1% | 6.1% | 4.3% | N/A | N/A |
| CSOP | 16–18/10/09 | http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-6314126-sondaj-csop-mircea-geoana-crescut-trei-procente-sondaj-traian-basescu-doar-unul.htm | 35% | 24% | 19% | 8% | 4% | 4% | N/A | N/A |
| CURS | 15–22/10/09 | http://prezidentiale.evz.ro/emain/articolul/873136/CURS-Basescu-si-Geoana-umar-la-umar | 31% | 30% | 17% | 9% | 5% | 4% | 4% | N/A |
| BCS | 19 October 2009 | http://www.informatia-zilei.ro/new/2009/10/25/bcs-antonescu-a-urcat-pe-locul-doi/ | 31.3% | 21.9% | 23.8% | 10.4% | 3.7% | 3.8% | 5.1% | N/A |
| Operations Research | 20–23/10/09 | http://www.cotidianul.ro/antonescu_l_a_depasit_pe_geoana_cu_o_vasla_in_urmarirea_lui_basescu-102102.html | 31% | 21% | 22% | 12% | 6% | 29/10-1/11 /09 | 6% | |
| INSOMAR | 29/10–1/11 /09 | http://www.realitatea.net/sondaj-insomar--mircea-geoana-32prc---traian-basescu-30prc---in-primul-tur-al-prezidentialelor_654907.html | 30% | 32% | 19% | 6% | 7% | 3% | 5.1% | N/A |
| Gallup Romania | 01–03/11/09 | http://prezidentiale.evz.ro/emain/articolul/874445/Crin-il-loveste-pe-Geoana-cu-un-sondaj/ | 32.5% | 21.5% | 21.5% | 11% | 5% | 2.5% | N/A | |
| CCSB | 3 November 2009 | http://ziarulfaclia.ro/Sondaj-CCSB-B%C4%83sescu-ar-c%C3%AE%C5%9Ftiga-primul-tur-al-alegerilor-preziden%C5%A3iale-dar-ar-pierde-%C3%AEn-al-doilea-tur+32939 | 34% | 30% | 18% | 14% | 3% | 1% | 1% | |
| INSOMAR | 9 November 2009 | http://www.realitatea.net/insomar--geoana---32prc---basescu---31prc---antonescu---18prc-_661352.html | 31% | 32% | 18% | 5% | 6% | 5% | N/A | |
| CCSB | 11 November 2009 | http://www.jurnalul.ro/stire-politic/sondaj-ccsb-basescu-antonescu-un-tur-doi-indecis-527303.html | 34% | 31% | 16% | 10% | 4% | 3% | 2% | |
| Operations Research | 15 November 2009 | http://www.ziua.ro/news.php?data=2009-11-14&id=45039 | 30% | 23% | 26% | 8% | 6% | 4% | 3% | |
| CSOP | 18 November 2009 | http://www.gazetadebistrita.ro/citeste/1665-sondaj-csop-basescu-invingator-si-in-turul-ii?n=1 | 37% | 27% | 20% | 6% | 3% | 5% | 2% | |
| Operations Research | 19 November 2009 | http://www.ziua.net/news.php?data=2009-11-19&id=45387 | 32,5% | 23,5% | 24,5% | 7% | 6% | 4% | 2,5% |
Exit-polls
| Polling Firm | Source | Băsescu Traian Basescu Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004... |
Geoană Mircea Geoana Dan Mircea Geoană is a Romanian politician, who served as president of the upper chamber of the Romanian Parliament, the Senate from December 20, 2008 until he was revoked by the senators on November 23, 2011. From 21 April 2005 until 21 February 2010 he was the head of the Partidul Social... |
Antonescu Crin Antonescu George-Crin-Laurenţiu Antonescu is a Romanian politician, currently serving as President of the National Liberal Party . He was a candidate for the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2009. He is a member of the Senate, his election having taken place during the 2008 legislative election... |
Tudor Corneliu Vadim Tudor Corneliu Vadim Tudor is leader of the Greater Romania Party , writer, journalist and a Member of the European Parliament... |
Kelemen | Oprescu Sorin Oprescu Sorin Mircea Oprescu is a Romanian independent politician and medical doctor who is currently serving as Mayor of Bucharest.-Political activity:... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSOP | Gandul | 33.2% | 30.3% | 22% | 4.9% | ||
| CURS | TVR | 33.72% | 31.44% | 21.53% | 4.22% | 3.26% | 3.18% |
| INSOMAR | Realitatea TV | 32.8% | 31.7% | 21.8% | 4% | 3.6% | 3.5% |
| CCSB | Antena 3 | 34.1% | 30.9% | 22.1% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.4% |
Second round
Băsescu vs GeoanăExit-polls
| Polling Firm | Date | Source | Băsescu Traian Basescu Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004... |
Geoană Mircea Geoana Dan Mircea Geoană is a Romanian politician, who served as president of the upper chamber of the Romanian Parliament, the Senate from December 20, 2008 until he was revoked by the senators on November 23, 2011. From 21 April 2005 until 21 February 2010 he was the head of the Partidul Social... |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INSOMAR 21:00 | 6 /12 /09 | http://www.gazeta.ru/news/lenta/2009/12/06/n_1432564.shtml | 48.8% | 51.2% |
| CSOP 21:00 | 6 /12 /09 | http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-6680004-update-exit-poll-uri-actualizate-geoana-scade-nesemnificativ-insomar-curs-basescu-dat-cistigator-csop.htm | 50.4% | 49.6% |
| CURS 21:00 | 6 /12 /09 | http://www.gandul.info/politica/live-text-noi-rezultate-la-ora-21-00-insomar-g-51-2-b-48-8-curs-g-50-7-b-49-3-ccsb-g-51-b-49-csop-g-49-6-b-50-4-5156935 | 49.3% | 50.7% |
| CCSB 21:00 | 6 /12 /09 | http://www.gandul.info/politica/live-text-noi-rezultate-la-ora-21-00-insomar-g-51-2-b-48-8-curs-g-50-7-b-49-3-ccsb-g-51-b-49-csop-g-49-6-b-50-4-5156935 | 49% | 51% |
Accusations of electoral fraud
The opposition has decided to contest the result; Mircea GeoanaMircea Geoana
Dan Mircea Geoană is a Romanian politician, who served as president of the upper chamber of the Romanian Parliament, the Senate from December 20, 2008 until he was revoked by the senators on November 23, 2011. From 21 April 2005 until 21 February 2010 he was the head of the Partidul Social...
announced that the Social Democrats will contest the elections at the Constitutional court and will submit evidence of electoral fraud. PSD Secretary General Liviu Dragnea cited "a high number of void ballots, modified voting protocols, and massive electoral tourism". Dragnea stated: "Romanians voted for Mircea Geoana, but Basescu's state apparatus is trying to make him the presidential winner through fraud". Former Prime Minister Adrian Năstase
Adrian Nastase
Adrian Năstase is a Romanian politician who was the Prime Minister of Romania from December 2000 to December 2004.He competed as the Social Democratic Party candidate in the 2004 presidential election, but was defeated by centre-right Justice and Truth Alliance candidate Traian Băsescu.He was...
and former President Ion Iliescu
Ion Iliescu
Ion Iliescu served as President of Romania from 1990 until 1996, and from 2000 until 2004. From 1996 to 2000 and from 2004 until his retirement in 2008, Iliescu was a Senator for the Social Democratic Party , whose honorary president he remains....
both stated that they doubted the results.
Mircea Geoana has also stated that the Social Democrats exclude any collaboration with Basescu and his party, and maintain the majority with the Liberals and Hungarian Democrats, while Crin Antonescu also stated that the Liberal Party excludes "any participation in a Traian Basescu puppet government"
Proceedings at the Constitutional Court
On 8 December, the Social Democratic Party submitted their request to annul and repeat the presidential election run-off to the Constitutional Court, saying the election was rigged.On 11 December, in an unprecedented decision the Constitutional Court decided to recount all 138,476 invalid votes. After 137,613 invalid votes recounted, only 2,137 were revalidated (1.6% of recounted invalid votes), 1,169 votes for Traian Basescu and 968 for Mircea Geoana.
On 14 December, the Constitutional Court rejected the request to repeat the presidential elections, paving the way to validate Băsescu's election. The same day, Geoana admitted defeat and wished Basescu good luck in his second term in office.