Polls show President Basescu leading field
President Basescu remains the most popular presidential candidate in Romania, but without an outright majority, according to a Metro Media Transylvania opinion poll.
September 2009 - From the Print Edition
The survey revealed that 31 per cent of Romanians would vote for President Traian Basescu in an election due to be held in November this year. He is followed by the president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Mircea Geoana with 21 per cent.
Although both not official candidates, Bucharest Mayor Sorin Oprescu and billionaire MEP George Becali both scored 12 per cent each.
As far as parties are concerned, PSD leads by 36 per cent, followed by the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) with 33 per cent, PNL with seven per cent, PRM with six per cent, the Hungarian Union (UDMR) with five per cent.
Meanwhile another opinion poll run between 30 July and 3 August by the Centre for Studying Opinion and Market (CSOP) revealed that Sorin Oprescu would increase the PSD’s chances in the presidential elections if he decided to run as the PSD candidate.
In this case Traian Basescu is favoured by 36 per cent of the Romanians, followed by Oprescu with 22 per cent, National Liberal Party (PNL) president Crin Antonescu with 13 per cent, Vadim Tudor with 12 per cent, UDMR candidate Kelemen Hunor five per cent and independent Prince Radu of Romania with three per cent.
As we went to press, the Government had not set a firm date for the first round of elections, but the understanding was that this would be on 22 November. This means that two weeks after, on 6 December, the second round could take place.
The electoral campaign will last 30 days before the first round.