Romania Sets Presidential Election Date

ROMANIA

On Monday, Romania’s ruling coalition set November 22 as the date for the country’s presidential elections and established new rules to improve the voting process.

The ruling centre-right Democratic Liberal Party, PD-L, and leftist Social Democratic Party, PSD, decided not to make any changes to the current election law, but agreed on some anti-fraud measures.

Special polling stations will be established for those who do not have a permanent residence in the locality in which they vote and webcams will be installed in polling stations so that voters are not tempted to vote twice.

A recent survey showed that 63% of Romanian citizens are convinced their votes will be subject to fraud. Only 18% of respondents believe the elections will be fair.

President Traian Basescu, who has ties to the PD-L, is expected to run for re-election in November. His main rival, according to polls, is PSD leader Mircea Geoana.

Prince Radu Duda – a former Romanian actor married to Princess Margaret, the eldest daughter of the country’s last king – is also amongst those to have announced their candidacies.