Romanians vote in crucial presidential run-off

The two contenders, both in their 50s, finished almost neck-and-neck in the first round of voting two weeks ago.

Romanians voted on Sunday in a presidential run-off that could end a political deadlock holding up crucial international aid to the recession-wracked EU member.

Incumbent centre-right President Traian Basescu, a former sea captain promising tough state reforms, faces Social-Democrat Mircea Geoana, an ex-diplomat who has pledged to maintain jobs and "reunite Romania" after years of political squabbling.

The two contenders, both in their 50s, finished almost neck-and-neck in the first round of voting two weeks ago, with Basescu winning 32.4 percent of ballots and Geoana 31 percent.

But Geoana looked to be the favourite after winning the support of the PNL liberal party, Romania's third main political force.

An opinion poll by Insomar institute published last week put his support at 54 percent.

However, after a campaign dominated by below-the-belt blows, "it's difficult to say the race is over," said political analyst Cristian Parvulescu.

Basescu came under fire after the release of a video apparently showing him slap a 10-year-old boy, while Geoana was accused of promising favours to a controversial business and media tycoon.

Three hours after the polls opened, turnout was higher than in the first round with 7.5 percent against six percent two weeks ago, officials said. Overall turnout in the first round was 54 percent.

The poll has been billed as the most important since the fall of Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu 20 years ago.

Florica Marinescu, a Bucharest pensioner, said she was voting in the hope that "someone new will emerge in five years' time because we are fed up with always seeing the same politicians".

The two candidates voted in the capital accompanied by their families.

"I have cast my vote hoping that the end of the year will bring unity and stability to Romania and a new government," Geoana told reporters.

Whoever wins will have no time to lose in appointing a prime minister, with Romania locked in the grip of one of the European Union's worst recessions. The country has been led by a caretaker government since October.

The International Monetary Fund, the European Union and the World Bank, which in March agreed on a 20-billion-euro bailout plan, expect immediate steps to cut public spending after the economy shrank by 7.4 percent in the first nine months of 2009.

The winner will also be expected to be the figurehead in a battle against widespread corruption.

If elected, Geoana promises a new government before the end of the year led by independent Klaus Iohannis, an ethnic German, mayor of the Transylvanian town of Sibiu, which was the European capital of culture in 2007.

His government could count on the support of a majority of the parties in parliament.

Basescu's ruling Democrat Liberal Party (PDL) has found itself isolated following an agreement between the left-wing Social Democrats and the liberals. But he insisted the PDL would be able to find allies to form a government.

More than 18 million people out of the 21.5 million population were eligible to vote. Balloting began at 7:00 am (0500 GMT) and was due to end at 9:00 pm.

While the parties accused one another of fraud in the first round, monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said the election was largely up to international standards.

Exit polls were to be released on Sunday evening but the first official results were not expected before Monday.