Around the World: Romania

Election headed for runoff

Romanians were voting for a new president yesterday in an election that could help end a leadership crisis that has threatened an international loan aimed at stopping the country's painful recession.

President Traian Basescu, who represents Romania's political center, has lost some public support during a first five-year term characterized by a stormy relationship with parliament and a deep economic crisis. His main rival is former Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, who heads the leftist Social Democrats and is head of the Senate. Polls show Basescu with only a slight lead over his main rival. That means a runoff election is likely on Dec 6.