Basescu ahead in Romanian election

Mayor Traian Basescu was ahead in the Romanian presidential run-off, according to official partial results released today.

Basescu had 51.75% of the vote, to Nastase’s 48.25 based on 92.1% of the vote counted.

He was 600,000 votes ahead, the Central Electoral Bureau said.

Basescu’s opposition Justice and Truth Alliance said that Basescu had 51.5% of the vote, compared to Nastase’s 49.5%, according to a parallel count of ballots carried out by the opposition.