Runoff needed in Romania’s presidential elections

Partial results in Romania’s presidential election on Sunday show that incumbent President Klaus Iohannis will likely fail to receive an outright majority, making a runoff necessary.

The 60-year-old centrist liberal received some 36% support, with Social Democrat (PSD) leader Viorica Dancila in second place with 24%.

That would mean a runoff with Dancila on November 24.

An exit poll conducted by IRES pollster showed Iohannis garnered 38.7% of votes followed by Dancila with 22%. Save Romania Union head Dan Barna got 16.1%. Another poll by Curs-Avangarde ranked Iohannis first with 39% and Dancila with 22.5%.

Data by the electoral bureau, which is expected to unveil partial official results from Monday morning, showed robust turnout of 48% with a record high diaspora voter presence of 660,000 – which was not taken into account by the exit polls.

Via DW / Reuters