Klaus Iohannis was re-elected Romania's president Sunday, easily winning a runoff vote amid vows to continue fighting corruption and strengthen the rule of law. With 88% of the votes counted, the center-right Iohannis had 63.2% while Social Democratic Party leader Viorica Dancila
Klaus Iohannis was re-elected Romania’s president Sunday, easily winning a runoff vote amid vows to continue fighting corruption and strengthen the rule of law.
With 88% of the votes counted, the center-right Iohannis had 63.2% while Social Democratic Party leader Viorica Dancila, a recently ousted former prime minister, had 36.8%, The Associated Press (AP) reported.
"Romania won! Modern, European, normal Romania won today," Iohannis said at the headquarters of the National Liberal Party after the release of an exit poll forecasting his victory. "Romanians were the day’s heroes. They went to vote in impressive numbers and this is the most important gain of this day."
According to the AP, voter turnout for the runoff was 49.87%, down from 53.17% in 2014.
For her part, speaking after casting her ballot in the morning, Dancila had promised "more involvement, work and commitment to the Romanian people."
Though lacking an executive role, Romania's president has significant decision-making powers, including on matters of national security and foreign policy. Elected for a five-year term, the president can also reject party nominees for prime minister and government nominees for judicial appointments.
