Exit polls: Ponta and Iohannis get to the run-off election

Social Democrat Victor Ponta and Liberal Klaus Iohannis have got the most votes in the first round of the Sunday’s presidential elections, with Ponta coming first and Iohannis second, according to the exit polls conducted by four opinion poll institutes until 7 p.m. and ordered by TV channels.

The two contenders are entering the run-off race due on November 16.

SOCIOPOL: Ponta – 40 percent, Iohannis – 31 percent.

RES: Ponta – 41.50 percent, Iohannis – 31.2 percent, T?riceanu – 5.3 percent, Udrea – 5.1 percent, Macovei – 4.5 percent.

CSCI: Ponta – 40 percent, Iohannis – 31 percent, T?riceanu – 6 percent, Macovei – 5 percent, Udrea – 5 percent.

CSOP: Ponta – 38 percent, Iohannis – 32 percent, Macovei – 6 percent, T?riceanu – 6 percent, Udrea – 6 percent.

Contenders’ comments

Victor Ponta said he is proud that many Romanians have trusted his project, adding he will address all Romanians for the next two weeks, as he feels responsible for all of them. The incumbent PM announced he would meet ruling coalition partners to agree on the possible future prime minister. He also invited his contender in the run-off, Klaus Iohannis to take part in the TV shows in the second week of the electoral campaign, to debate important matters and not to clash each other.

In his turn, Ponta’s campaign chief for the presidential elections, Liviu Dragnea forecast Ponta would get over 37-38 percent in the first round, a good result ahead his target, adding it is for the first time that a PSD candidate is getting “an important score in the diaspora”. Dragnea also said there has been a bigger difference between the first two candidates than in any other presidential elections in the last 20 years.

On the other hand, ACL’ candidate Klaus Iohannis considered exit polls results very good, saying change is already happening. He thanked all citizens for casting their votes, no matter in favor of whose candidate they did it.

As for the third place’ three contenders, they all disputed ‘victory’.

Calin Popescu Tariceanu said the votes he got in this first round represents a certain obligation, so he will decide on the run-off vote recommendation, after consulting his Liberal Reformist Party.

Independent candidate Monica Macovei invited all who want to join her in a new project based on justice, equity, dignity and integrity, adding that “the honest people’ s revolution begins now” and that “a third pole was born in Romania today”.

PMP’s Elena Udrea stated she considers the third place “an accomplished target”, although she “has been facing the hardest campaign in the 25 years”.