Romania elects new President
Romanians have begun voting to elect a new leader as President Traian Basescu steps down after 10 years, with the prime minister favourite to win in the nation of 19 million.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta faces challengers including a city mayor and a prominent lawyer. If no candidate secures an absolute majority in today's vote, there will be a run-off on November 16.
The president is in charge of defence and foreign policy, and names the chiefs of the country’s two main intelligence agencies as well as top prosecutors and ambassadors.
Mr Ponta, 42, is an ex-prosecutor whose popularity appears not to have been badly damaged by corruption probes of senior members of his Social Democratic Party.
He has pledged lower taxes, higher pensions and good relations with both the European Union and China.
