Romanian Socialists ahead in twin vote - exit polls

Exit polls put Romania's ruling ex-communists ahead of the opposition centrists in yesterday's general election, keeping alive their hopes of clinging to power in the European Union candidate country.

Two separate exit polls put support for the Social Democrats (PSD) of Prime Minister Adrian Nastase at between 38.9 and 40.1 per cent. It was not immediately clear if this showing would translate into a majority in parliament.

Mr Nastase came first in the parallel presidential vote but failed to win an outright majority, which means he will face the centrist opposition leader, Trajan Basescu, in the run-off on December 12.

Mr Nastase won between 41 and 43 per cent of the vote compared with about 35 per cent for Mr Basescu, the popular mayor of Bucharest.

Ultra-nationalist Vadim Tudor failed to repeat his 2000 success of making it into the second round, and his Greater Romania party also fared poorly, with its support falling to about 13 per cent from about 20 per cent.

Mr Basescu's centrist alliance of Liberals and Democrats captured between 34 and 35.4 per cent in the race for parliament.

Poverty and corruption topped concerns among 18 million voters in Romania, which wants to join the European Union in 2007.

The ruling PSD has been credited with sustained economic growth and bringing the ex-communist country to the threshold of EU membership.

They have promised to reduce poverty and to protect the poor from the side-effects of reforms needed to join the EU.

The opposition campaigned against corruption. They were seen as more pro-business and more likely to speed up reforms needed to complete Romania's transition towards an EU-compatible market economy.