Voter turnout in Romania much higher

At 10.00 it was already clear that the Romanian voters were much more active than in the first round of the presidential elections as they had to choose between the Cotroceni Palace and Romania’s future, Info-Prim Neo’s correspondent in Bucharest reports. More than 55% of the voters cast their ballots by 19.00. As in the first round, the voters in Dambovita, Teleorman, Ilfov and Mehedinti counties were the most active. The turnout there was over 60%. At 21.00, the voter turnout was 56.99%, in Bucharest – 54.9%. Not long before 21.00, both of the candidates declared themselves winners. Taian Basescu said he won as in 2004, stressing that not the exit polls show the results, but the Central Election Office, which will make the first results public tomorrow. “The victory in elections is due to the Romanians,” Traian Basescu said. “More than 5 million Romanians made their choice. We do not have another program than that proposed by me. Today, the Romanians voted in favor of the one who can modernize Romania,” the candidate of the PDL said. Mircea Geoana expected first the exit poll results, which gave him over 50% of the vote, by 70 000- 300 000 votes more than to Traian Basescu. There were carried out four exit polls. “It is a nice night for our victory,” said the PSD candidate. He thanked the leader of the PNL Crin Antonescu, stressing he will always be grateful to him. At the same time, Mircea Geoana thanked Traian Basescu for the work done during five years, saying he will treat him with the appropriate respect. “Real work starts tomorrow,” Geoana said. “Together with Crin Antonescu, we will make effort to overcome the crisis and will install the Johannis Government. From today, I am the President of all Romanians.” According to the associations Pro Democratia, during the second round there were identified more irregularities than in the first round, but fewer electoral frauds such as electoral tourism, in Moldova as well, and vote buying.