Romanian Social Democrats Elect Victor Ponta For Party President

Ponta got 856 of social democrat delegates’ votes, while Geoana secured 781 of the votes.

Nine candidates initially joined the race for party president, but two of them, Constanta mayor Radu Mazare and party „renegade” Miron Mitrea, backed out Saturday afternoon saying they support Ponta for the position. Former foreign minister Cristian Diaconescu also backed out saying he supports Geoana for reelection.

Ponta also had the support of party heavyweights including founder Ion Iliescu and former party leader Adrian Nastase.

Ciolacu: Victor Ponta va rupe din electoratul PSD tot atât de mult cât a rupt și Mircea Geoană

PSD, după excluderea lui Victor Ponta: S-a autoexclus de mult

Geoana in December 2009 lost a presidential election to President Traian Basescu, which prompted his leftist Social Democratic Party to hold an extraordinary congress meeting electing new leaders.