Ponta leads in first round of Romanian presidential election

EurActiv and other news sources reported that Romania's Prime Minister Victor Ponta led the first round of Romania's presidential election held on the 2 November 2014. A second round between Mr Ponta and second-placed Klaus Iohannis will take on the 16 November 2014.

Following the first round of the presidential election, protests broke out in major Romanian cities after numerous problems stopped thousands of Romanians living abroad from voting, according to EurActiv. Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean stepped down following the protests.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Romanian presidential election, 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/romanian-presidential-election-2014/

Balkan Insight, 03.11.14: PM Ponta Leads in Romanian Presidential Elections http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/pm-ponta-leads-in-romanian-presidential-elections

BBC News, 03.11.14: Romanian election: Presidential run-off vote expected http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29874030

Deutsche Welle, 02.11.14: Ponta leads Romanian presidential vote http://dw.de/p/1Dfro

EUObserver, 03.11.14: Romanian PM ahead in presidential elections http://euobserver.com/political/126343

Deutsche Welle, 03.11.14: Victor Ponta to face Klaus Iohannis in Romania runoff http://dw.de/p/1Dg0X

Euronews, 03.11.14: Romanian PM Victor Ponta heads presidential poll http://www.euronews.com/2014/11/03/romanian-pm-heads-presidential-poll/

EurActiv, 04.11.14: Irregularities cloud Romanian election runoff http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/irregularities-cloud-romanian-election-runoff-309726

Balkan Insight, 04.11.14: Romania Pledges to Ease Voting Abroad http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/government-to-improve-voting-process-for-romanians-abroad

openDemocracy: Can Europe Make It?, 04.11.14: Romanian presidential election: can you spot the difference? , https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/claudia-ciobanu/romanian-presidential-election-can-you-spot-difference

EurActiv, 10.11.14: Romania rocked by protests ahead of presidential election runoff http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/romania-rocked-protests-ahead-presidential-election-runoff-309884

Hotnews, 10.11.14: Romanians feel betrayed as they did in 1989 (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE153332-Romanians-feel-betrayed-as-they-did-in-1989

Euronews, 10.11.14: Romanians protest over election hitches http://www.euronews.com/2014/11/10/romanians-protest-over-election-hitches/

Balkan Insight, 07.11.14: Romanian Hungarians Stay Neutral in Presidential Race http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/romanian-ethnic-party-backs-no-presidential-hopefuls

Balkan Insight, 10.11.14: Romania Foreign Minister Resigns Over Vote Scandal http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/romania-s-foreign-minister-resigns

Euronews, 10.11.14: Romania loses foreign minister over election chaos claims http://www.euronews.com/2014/11/10/romania-loses-foreign-minister-over-election-chaos-claims/

EUObserver, 14.11.14: Romania to elect new president after 'wretched' campaign http://euobserver.com/political/126506

Deutsche Welle, 14.11.14: Orthodox priests are Ponta's best campaigners (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE153620-Orthodox-priests-are-Ponta-s-best-campaigners

---