PM leads first round of Romanian presidential vote: exit polls

BUCHAREST: Pro-European Social Democrat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu was leading in Sunday´s first round of Romania´s presidential election, according to two exit polls released soon after the end of voting.

Ciolacu scored 25 percent of the vote while the centre-right former journalist turned small-town mayor Elena Lasconi was on 18 percent, according to the polls. Two far-right candidates scored 15 and 16 percent.

Voting finished at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT).

In the absence of an outright winner in the first round -- scoring more than 50 percent -- the top two candidates go through to a second-round run-off on December 8.Ciolacu´s Social Democratic Party (PSD), which has shaped the country´s politics for more than three decades, currently governs in a coalition with the National Liberal Party.

Polling in third place is former journalist Elena Lasconi, who became mayor of the small town of Campulung and head of a centre-right opposition party, who could prove to be a surprise package.

“Our best hope might be to wake up with Lasconi in the second round -- she seems to be the most honest candidate,” said Diaconu before hopping on a Bucharest tram.

Polling stations opened at 7:00 am (0500 GMT) and close at 9:00 pm, with exit polls expected shortly after.