Romanian Social Democrats To Contest Election Outcome Claiming Vote Was Rigged

Although Geoana was leading exit-polls Sunday evening, the result shifted by Monday morning and the official vote count of ballots in 99.95% of polling stations shows incumbent Traian Basescu reelected with 50.33% and Geoana losing with 49.66%

Social Democratic Party secretary general Liviu Dragnea said Monday the party will contest the election result saying numerous cases of fraud occured during the process.

Dragnea also said Romanians elected Geoana president and Basescu's state apparatus is striving to pull the strings in the latter's favor.

Dragnea added the decision to contest the results of the presidential election runoff will be made by the party's Executive Committee at 5 p.m.

"We are convinced Romanians voted Mircea Geoana for president, but Traian Basescu's state apparatus is trying to fraudulently proclaim him victor," Dragnea said.

Dragnea said the Social Democratic Party made a parallel vote count which indicates Geoana is the winner of the presidential election, adding the party will centralize today all irregularities that were notified.

The Constitutional Court can annul the result of presidential elections if it turns out the election was rigged. If the election outcome is canceled, the voting process is repeated on the second Sunday after the Constitutional Court's decision.

Any of the parties competing in the election has three days to contest its outcome and must bring forth evidence to support claims the election was rigged.

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