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WORLD NEWS Monday 25 noveMber 2019

Romania's Iohannis hopes for 2nd term in presidential runoff

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) promising the rule of law president has significant government nominees for World Bank study last year.
— Romanians are voting and the independence of decision-making powers, judicial appointments. Recent figures pointed to
Sunday in a presidential judges. including on matters of na- Romania, a member of the slowing economic growth,
runoff election in which in- Earlier this month, lawmak- tional security and foreign EU since 2007, is plagued though the annual rate of
cumbent Klaus Iohannis is ers backed a minority gov- policy. Elected for a five- by widespread poverty 3% percent achieved in
vying for a second term ernment led by Prime Min- year term, the president with over 25% of its popula- the third quarter of the year
while vowing to continue ister Ludovic Orban of the can also reject party nomi- tion living on less than $5.50 was still among the fastest
efforts to fight corruption. National Liberal Party, for- nees for prime minister and a day, according to a in Europe.q

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis speaks to the media after
casting his vote in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019.
Associated Press

Iohannis, a conservative, is merly headed by Iohannis.
facing Social Democratic Iohannis has clashed often
Party leader Viorica Danci- with Dancila and her party
la, a former prime minister. over the judiciary reforms
Polls close at 1900 GMT. and other legislation. Op-
In the first round two weeks ponents and critics worried
ago, Iohannis won 37.8% about the dilution of anti-
and Dancila 22.2%. corruption laws which in the
"I voted for a modern Ro- past years led to the indict-
mania, a European Roma- ment of dozens of Cabinet
nia, a normal Romania," members, lawmakers and
Iohannis said after casting even a Romanian mem-
his ballot. "I invite you all to ber of the European Parlia-
come out and vote." ment.
For her part, Dancila prom- Public outrage has also re-
ised "more involvement, sulted in frequent, massive
work and commitment to anti-corruption protests in
the Romanian people." Bucharest and other cities.
Dancila's government was With their shared ideologi-
ousted on Oct. 10 after cal roots and values, Iohan-
losing a confidence vote nis and Orban would be ex-
in parliament. It had been pected to work together to
embroiled by allegations of boost the anti-graft mea-
corruption and criticized by sures.
the European Union for ju- Though lacking an ex-
dicial reforms seen as com- ecutive role, Romania's