Millions of Romanians are expected to vote in the first round of presidential elections on Sunday, November 22. A month-long electoral campaign preceded the poll, which takes place amid serious political and economic turmoil: the political parties of the leading candidates have been deadlocked over the formation of a new government, further reform and measures aimed at tackling the economic crisis. Only three candidates are given real chances to get into a second round of elections.
The poll takes place simultaneously with a referendum called by President Traian Basescu on a reform of the parliament structures in Romania.
12 candidates are running for presidency, with only two due to face each other in a second round of elections in early December. Of the 12, only four claimed the bulk of public attention during the campaign and only three are seen as main contenders.
The electoral campaign focused largely on attacks against incumbent President Traian Basescu, who runs for a renewed term in office, and on Basescu's all-means, offensive resistance against these attacks. While the referendum was a secondary issue for most of the overall campaign but a central piece of Basescu's strategy, the campaign was marked by collateral debates on issues such as the control of media groups or a secret visit by one candidate to Moscow earlier this year.
As little focus was paid to political platforms, many voters across Romania are expected to vote for the candidate each sees as "less worse" than others. Recent elections in Romania, including parliamentary elections a year ago and European Parliament elections in June this year, have been marked by voter apathy.
In the referendum, voters will be asked whether they agree with a one-chamber Parliament (Romania's Parliament is now formed of two chambers - the Senate and the House
