Romania's ruling former communists won 36.6 per cent of the vote in Sunday's parliamentary elections, ahead of their rival opposition centrists who won 31.3 per cent, final results showed today.
Opposition alliance leader Traian Basescu
The opposition alliance of Liberals and Democrats have asked the electoral bureau to cancel the twin vote for a new president and parliament, citing voting fraud, but the election authority rejected the demand today.
The row over the inconclusive elections threatened to plunge the Balkan country into weeks of uncertainty as it struggles to speed up reforms needed to join the European Union in 2007.
Prime Minister Adrian Nastase led the presidential race with 40.9 per cent and will face a Dec. 12 runoff against alliance leader Traian Basescu, who won 33.9 per cent, final results showed.
No party won enough votes to gain a majority in parliament.
Basescu has slammed the ruling Social Democrats (PSD) and the electoral bureau for what he said was manipulation of hundreds of thousands of votes in both races that helped boost the PSD's lead.
He urged his supporters to stay at home to avoid the street protests that have rocked neighbouring Ukraine after a disputed presidential election. "We are strong enough to defend democracy in Romania," he said.
PSD officials have denied trying to steal votes.