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Romania PM Ponta admits defeat in presidential election Romania PM Ponta admits defeat in presidential election
(35 minutes later)
The Romanian Prime Minister, Victor Ponta, has conceded victory in the country's presidential run-off to centre-right candidate Klaus Iohannis. The Romanian Prime Minister, Victor Ponta, has conceded victory in the country's presidential run-off to an ethnic German mayor, Klaus Iohannis.
"I called Mr Iohannis and I congratulated him," Mr Ponta, a Social Democrat, told reporters."I called Mr Iohannis and I congratulated him," Mr Ponta, a Social Democrat, told reporters.
Exit polls were unclear over the outcome of the vote. Early results are expected on Monday. Early official results are expected on Monday. Exit polls had suggested a tight race.
Romania is one of the EU's most corrupt member states, something which Mr Iohannis has vowed to tackle. Romania is one of the most corrupt EU states, something which centre-right Mr Iohannis has vowed to tackle.
Despite the election result, Mr Ponta told a local television channel that he had "no reason to resign" as prime minister.
He had hoped to become the country's youngest president, replacing the incumbent Traian Basescu who cannot stand for re-election after serving two terms.
Diaspora decides
Correspondents say the outcome of the election may have been decided by Romania's large diaspora.Correspondents say the outcome of the election may have been decided by Romania's large diaspora.
Many of the four million Romanians living abroad are said to be disillusioned with Mr Ponta.Many of the four million Romanians living abroad are said to be disillusioned with Mr Ponta.
After the first round of voting, there were protests at polling stations in Paris, London, and other cities when voters had to queue for hours, with some unable to vote, leading to the resignation of the foreign minister last week.After the first round of voting, there were protests at polling stations in Paris, London, and other cities when voters had to queue for hours, with some unable to vote, leading to the resignation of the foreign minister last week.
Corruption crackdown Mr Ponta was leading in the opinion polls and had beaten Mr Iohannis, the mayor of Sibiu in Transylvania, in the first round of the presidential election.
Mr Ponta was leading in the opinion polls and had beaten Mr Iohannis, the mayor of Sibiu, in the first round of the presidential election.
"We are a democratic country," Mr Ponta said outside the headquarters of his Social Democratic Party on Sunday. "The people are always right.""We are a democratic country," Mr Ponta said outside the headquarters of his Social Democratic Party on Sunday. "The people are always right."
Mr Ponta, 42, had promised to reduce the budget deficit, increase pensions and the minimum wage.Mr Ponta, 42, had promised to reduce the budget deficit, increase pensions and the minimum wage.
As prime minister, he oversaw economic growth and political stability in Romania, the EU's second-poorest state after Bulgaria.As prime minister, he oversaw economic growth and political stability in Romania, the EU's second-poorest state after Bulgaria.
In his election campaign, Mr Iohannis, 55, promised to crack down on corruption and to strengthen the independence of the judicial system. Aside from tackling corruption, Mr Iohannis, 55, promised in his election campaign to strengthen the independence of the judicial system.