Romanian PM to face mayor in runoff

Centre-left prime minister Victor Ponta will face Sibiu city mayor Klaus Iohannis in the second round of Romania’s presidential election after no candidate secured a majority of the vote

Victor Ponta, 42
Social Democratic
Party (PSD)

Has promised stability and end to bitter feuding between prime minister and president if he wins

His pledges include lower taxes, higher pensions, good relationswith EU and China, and referendumon restoring monarchy

Former prosecutor was Europe’s youngest prime minister when his party came to power on anti-austerity ticket in 2012

His popularity appears not to have been badly damaged by corruption probes of senior PSD members. Romania is viewed as being among most corrupt nations in EU

Ponta 40.3%
Iohannis 30.4%
First round result with 98.3 percent of ballots counted
Turnout 52.3%

Klaus Iohannis, 55
Christian LiberalAlliance (ACL) 

Backed by centre-right coalition of National Liberal Party (PNL) and Democratic Liberal Party (PDL)

Advocates reforms to boost recession-hit economy and says he will guarantee rule of law and independent justice system

Ethnic German has been mayor of Sibiu since 2000, winning praise for managing restoration works in medieval Transylvanian city, named European Capital of Culture in 2007

Stands out in rough-and-tumble world of Romanian politics for being mild mannered and serious, saying he wants to be a “mediator president” 



Source: Wire agencies
Pictures: Associated Press