Geoană, president for a night

"The diaspora carries President Traian Băsescu to victory," writes Evenimentul Zilei and notes that 79% of overseas Romanias voted for the outgoing head of state, tipping the second round of presidential elections on 6th December in his favour. The Romanian Central Electoral Office published the election results on the morning of the 7th and his 50.37% share of the vote means that Băsescu will now begin a second five-year term. The previous evening, exit polls had announced left-wing candidate Mircea Geoană as the winner. The Romanian daily newspapers had gone to print during the night with headlines announcing victory for Geoană. “But his joy lasted only a few hours,” comments Evenimentul Zilei, adding that this election night was a “carbon copy” of 2004 when Băsescu pipped the left-wing candidate Adrian Năstase at the post.