2009 Romanian presidential election

2009 Romanian presidential election

← 2004 22 November 2009 (first round)
6 December 2009 (second round)
2014 →
Turnout54.37% (first round)
58.02% (second round)
 
Nominee Traian Băsescu Mircea Geoană
Party Independent (PDL) PSD
Popular vote 5,275,808 5,205,760
Percentage 50.33% 49.67%

Second round vote strength by county

President before election

Traian Băsescu
PD

Elected President

Traian Băsescu
PDL

Presidential elections were held in Romania in 2009. They were the sixth presidential elections held in post-1989 Romania. The first round took place on 22 November, with a run-off round between the top two candidates Traian Băsescu (supported by the Democratic Liberal Party or PDL for short) and Mircea Geoană (supported by the Social Democratic Party or PSD for short) on 6 December 2009. Although most exit polls suggested a victory for Geoană in the runoff, the authorities declared Băsescu the narrow winner with 50.33% of the votes.[1][2] To date, it is the closest presidential election in the political history of Romania.

The opposition contested the results, citing a "high number of void ballots, modified voting protocols, and massive electoral tourism", vowing to challenge the result in the constitutional court.[3][4] The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) declared that the election "was held generally in line with OSCE commitments",[5] but also urged the authorities to investigate claims of fraud.[6] On 8 December, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) submitted a request to annul and repeat the run-off to the Constitutional Court, claiming it had been rigged.[7] On 14 December, the Constitutional Court rejected the request after recounting all the annulled votes.[8]

A referendum was held alongside the first round of voting on introducing a unicameral parliament of up to 300 deputies (replacing the existing bicameral parliament) and reducing the number of MPs to 300 but retaining the bicameral structure.

  1. ^ "Tăriceanu: "Datele problemei sunt cu totul altele. Fiecare partid are un interes propriu". Despre refuzul lui Antonescu de a discuta cu PD-L: "E bine să avem și păreri personale"". 23 April 2012.
  2. ^ "Rezultate finale BEC: Băsescu, preşedinte cu 50,33% din voturi". jurnalul.ro. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017.
  3. ^ Alex Bivol. "Romania incumbent president Basescu wins second term – South Eastern Europe". The Sofia Echo. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
  4. ^ "Romanian opposition alleges fraud". 7 December 2009 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  5. ^ "Bloomberg Politics". Bloomberg.com.
  6. ^ McLaughlin, Daniel. "Romania divided and paralysed by president's disputed, wafer-thin win". The Irish Times.
  7. ^ "Geoana demands repeat of presidential elections". Archived from the original on 13 December 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
  8. ^ "EVZ.ro – Gordon Brown: Băsescu trebuie să continue reforma în justiţie". www.evz.ro. Archived from the original on 18 December 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2021.