Romanian recount boosts president but fraud claims persist

A RECOUNT of votes annulled in Romania’s presidential election has strengthened the position of incumbent Traian Basescu, but failed to stifle opposition claims of massive voting fraud.

The constitutional court ordered a recount of almost 140,000 cancelled ballots after Social Democrat (PSD) challenger Mircea Geoana accused Mr Basescu’s team of rigging an election he won by about 70,000 votes.

The central election bureau said yesterday that it had found 2,247 cancelled votes to be valid, 1,260 of which were cast for Mr Basescu, who is supported by the centre-right Democratic Liberal party, and 987 of which were for Mr Geoana.

Mr Geoana and his PSD allies reiterated their allegations of election fraud, however, and called for a special parliamentary commission to investigate the ballot. The constitutional court is expected to rule on the claims this week, after which the results could be made official and Mr Basescu could prepare for a second term in office.

The next president will have to name a new prime minister, who must win the approval of a fractious parliament and form a government capable of leading Romania out of a deep recession.

Emil Boc, a Democratic Liberal, has been serving as caretaker premier since the PSD quit his coalition government in October, in a move that prompted the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to suspend payment of a €20 billion emergency loan.

Mr Boc is in talks with smaller parties to secure a parliamentary majority that would allow the next government to push through the unpopular cutbacks that the IMF is demanding.

The National Liberals – who are the third biggest party in parliament and backed Mr Geoana in the presidential election – have said they could join Mr Basescu’s allies in a coalition if one of their members or a political independent became prime minister. Mr Basescu and the Democratic Liberals have rejected such offers in the past.

An IMF team started talks with the government in Bucharest yesterday, but payment of the loan is only expected to resume once a new cabinet and cost-cutting budget are in place.