Romania Opposition Contests 'Rigged' Presidential Elections

The party's presidential candidate, Mircea Geoana (avove), has called for new polls, saying President Traian Basescu's victory was rigged. Photo by BGNES

Romania's opposition Social Democrat party has formally contested the result of Sunday's presidential vote at the Constitutional Court.

The party's presidential candidate, Mircea Geoana, has called for new polls, saying President Traian Basescu's victory was rigged. Basescu won the election by less than 1%.

The Constitutional Court's nine magistrates are expected to rule on the appeal within three days.

After a bitter contest, exit polls had predicted a victory for Geoana, the BBC reported.

But election officials said on Monday that centre-right President Basescu had won 50,3% of votes compared to Geoana's 49,7%.

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