BUCHAREST, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Incumbent president Traian Basescu won the first round of Romania's presidential election by a slim margin on Sunday, and will face leftist leader Mircea Geoana in the Dec. 6 runoff, exit polls showed.
The election is vital to solving a government crisis that has delayed aid from the International Monetary Fund and to reviving stalled economic and political reforms in the Balkan state of 22 million.
Whoever wins the election will play a pivotal role by nominating a new prime minister to replace the centre-left coalition government that collapsed in October.
POLLSTER Traian Basescu Mircea Geoana Crin Antonescu
INSOMAR 33 32 22
CURS 34 31 22
PARTY AFFILIATION:
Traian Basescu is close to centrist Democrat-Liberals (PD-L)
Mircea Geoana runs the ex-communist Social Democrats (PSD)
Crin Antonescu heads the Liberal Party (PNL)
COMMENTS
TRAIAN BASESCU, INCUMBENT PRESIDENT
'We now see that Romanians voted profoundly for the right wing. This candidate (Basescu) won together with the Liberal contender a combined 50 percent of votes against 34 percent in a 2004 ballot.'
'In my opinion this is an extremely serious argument for Romanian politicians when seeking to build the next government.'
'Romania needs a government urgently.'
'I will make no backhand negotiations that would put a question mark next to my mandate for 2009-2014.'
MIRCEA GEOANA, LEFT-WING CHALLENGER
'After Dec. 6, we will unite together to heal the evil done by scandals over the past year. I want to thank all who voted for other candidates, especially to those who voted for Crin Antonescu.'
MIRCEA MARIAN, POLITICAL ANALYST
'It's now clear that the two candidates are now seeking to get political support for the second round. First to offer something to PNL is Basescu.'
'I do believe that his offer for the PNL is only aimed at grabbing badly-needed backing to defeat Geoana. I cannot see his Democrat-Liberals pulling forces again with the PNL, given their long history of bickering.'
'Basescu is the best for Romanian reforms. I don't trust Geoana's ability to push through reforms.'
NICOLAIE ALEXANDRU-CHIDESCIUC, ING BANK IN BUCHAREST
'What matters at the moment for markets is to have a president and a government as soon as possible and the IMF deal back on track.'
'Today's results confirm what markets had expected. What matters for the economy is to have a government in place as soon as possible. I don't think it matters at the moment for the markets who will make that government.'
CRISTIAN PATRASCONIU, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR
'It is very difficult to predict the winner. There are many votes to split between the two candidates ... But Basescu is the best option for reforms.'
(Reporting by Bucharest bureau; Editing by Dominic Evans) Keywords: ROMANIA ELECTION/ (marius.zaharia@reuters.com ; +40 21 315 8320; Reuters Messaging: marius.zaharia.reuters.com@reuters.net ) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
The election is vital to solving a government crisis that has delayed aid from the International Monetary Fund and to reviving stalled economic and political reforms in the Balkan state of 22 million.
Whoever wins the election will play a pivotal role by nominating a new prime minister to replace the centre-left coalition government that collapsed in October.
POLLSTER Traian Basescu Mircea Geoana Crin Antonescu
INSOMAR 33 32 22
CURS 34 31 22
PARTY AFFILIATION:
Traian Basescu is close to centrist Democrat-Liberals (PD-L)
Mircea Geoana runs the ex-communist Social Democrats (PSD)
Crin Antonescu heads the Liberal Party (PNL)
COMMENTS
TRAIAN BASESCU, INCUMBENT PRESIDENT
'We now see that Romanians voted profoundly for the right wing. This candidate (Basescu) won together with the Liberal contender a combined 50 percent of votes against 34 percent in a 2004 ballot.'
'In my opinion this is an extremely serious argument for Romanian politicians when seeking to build the next government.'
'Romania needs a government urgently.'
'I will make no backhand negotiations that would put a question mark next to my mandate for 2009-2014.'
MIRCEA GEOANA, LEFT-WING CHALLENGER
'After Dec. 6, we will unite together to heal the evil done by scandals over the past year. I want to thank all who voted for other candidates, especially to those who voted for Crin Antonescu.'
MIRCEA MARIAN, POLITICAL ANALYST
'It's now clear that the two candidates are now seeking to get political support for the second round. First to offer something to PNL is Basescu.'
'I do believe that his offer for the PNL is only aimed at grabbing badly-needed backing to defeat Geoana. I cannot see his Democrat-Liberals pulling forces again with the PNL, given their long history of bickering.'
'Basescu is the best for Romanian reforms. I don't trust Geoana's ability to push through reforms.'
NICOLAIE ALEXANDRU-CHIDESCIUC, ING BANK IN BUCHAREST
'What matters at the moment for markets is to have a president and a government as soon as possible and the IMF deal back on track.'
'Today's results confirm what markets had expected. What matters for the economy is to have a government in place as soon as possible. I don't think it matters at the moment for the markets who will make that government.'
CRISTIAN PATRASCONIU, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR
'It is very difficult to predict the winner. There are many votes to split between the two candidates ... But Basescu is the best option for reforms.'
(Reporting by Bucharest bureau; Editing by Dominic Evans) Keywords: ROMANIA ELECTION/ (marius.zaharia@reuters.com ; +40 21 315 8320; Reuters Messaging: marius.zaharia.reuters.com@reuters.net ) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.