Romanian Presidential Debate Marked By Attacks, Irony

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Thus, in the one on one section of the debate, a moment in which the candidates, paired in turns, ask each other questions and offer replies, the candidates made use of all their rhetoric skills, keeping their camp and the journalists present at the debate on the edge of their seats.

After this round, came a section where the candidates would express their view on nine themes, agreed in pre-debate negotiations, regarding health, education, agriculture, state reform, foreign policy, the presidential model, the moral crisis and the economic crisis.

Even on this section of the debate, one with a more technical aspect, the three candidates took shots at each other, as Basescu scolded Antonescu for his absence in Parliament and then Antonescu scolded Geoana's supporters for applauding only when they hear numbers, namely the statistics invoked by he social democrat.

A special audience response came in a moment when the debate's moderator, journalist Robert Turcescu, asked the three participants to name the best deed they've done in their lifetime. Geoana said he didn't throw out his mother-in-law despite all the rumors circling her, Basescu said he christened a muslim child and Antonescu said he never left the ones with whom he started his journey.

At the end of the debate, Geoana offered flowers to the wives of his two opponents and also to his own wife, then shaking his opponents' hands and saying "may the best man win".