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Romanians vote in national poll Romanians vote in national poll
(20 minutes later)
Romanians have voted in the country's first parliamentary elections since it joined the European Union in 2007. Early indications from the Romanian general election put the leftist Social Democratic party in the lead.
Six main parties or alliances are competing for seats in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Exit polls predict that the opposition Social Democrats have won 36% of the vote in the first such election since Romania joined the EU last year.
The global economic crisis is likely to be the biggest issue for the 18 million Romanians eligible to vote. The global economic downturn appears to have eroded support for the governing Liberal party.
PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu's centre-right Liberal Party lagged behind the left-wing Social Democrats in the polls. The Social Democrats, the successors to the communists, campaigned on promises to increase welfare payments.
Polls opened at 0700 (0600 GMT) and closed at 2100 (2000 GMT). There have been no official results so far.
For the first time, Romanians choosed from among individual candidates instead of party lists as they filled seats in the 452-member parliament. Correspondents say the Liberals' former allies, the Liberal Democrats, are also in a strong position.
Squabbles between their figurehead President, Traian Basescu, and the Liberal leader, Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu, wrecked their coalition.
President Basescu, who still has another year in office, can nominate the next prime minister if the result is close.
Six main parties or alliances are competing for seats in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, with 18 million Romanians eligible to vote.
For the first time, Romanians chose from among individual candidates instead of party lists as they filled seats in the 452-member parliament.
But BBC Eastern Europe correspondent Nick Thorpe says the complex voting system has led some observers to express concerns about the possibility of fraud.But BBC Eastern Europe correspondent Nick Thorpe says the complex voting system has led some observers to express concerns about the possibility of fraud.
In the 19 years since the Romanian revolution, the left have traditionally shown more discipline while centre-right alliances have achieved dramatic election victories but broken up under the strains of governing, our correspondent says. In the 19 years since the Romanian revolution, the left have traditionally shown more discipline while centre-right alliances have achieved dramatic election victories but broken up under the strains of governing, our correspondent adds.
Romania's president has the power to nominate the prime minister - which can have a significant impact on the shape of the government, if the result is close.