Romanian President Says Won’t Negotiate Votes For Election Runoff

"Votes can't be negotiated or traded. Votes are not a commodity. Votes are the expression of confidence people have in a politician. We need to defend the confidence of those who voted for us, not trade it," said Basescu.

Romanian liberal leader Crin Antonescu, who secured third place in voters' preferences in the first round of presidential election, said Monday he excludes any alliance with incumbent President Basescu and won't back him in the runoff. Also Monday, social democrat contender Geoana said his party is open to ally with liberals to secure a Parliament majority around Sibiu mayor Klaus Johannis, whom they want appointed prime minister.

"I have made no gesture and have asked no politician to give me the votes they got Sunday. I think politicians continue to confirm their spite for Romanians," Basescu said, adding Romanians are his only partners in the election runoff.

According to preliminary results of Sunday's election released by the Central Electoral Bureau after ballots were counted in 99.92% of poling stations, Basescu obtained 32.42% of the votes in the first round of elections and Geoana got 31.17%.

Whoever emerges as the country's next president will have to appoint a new prime minister to replace democrat liberal Emil Boc, whose government collapsed in a no-confidence vote mid-October.

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