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Romania's President Hopes for New Term to Boost Rule of Law

Reuters

   BUCHAREST, ROMANIA - Romanians went to the polls Sunday for a
   presidential election runoff expected to reelect centrist president
   Klaus Iohannis, who has pledged to restart a judicial reform slowed by
   successive Social Democrat (PSD) governments.

   While there have been no recent opinion polls, local bookmakers make
   Iohannis the short-odds favorite to beat former PSD prime minister
   Viorica Dancila comfortably in Sunday's runoff.

   Under a succession of PSD governments, Romania rolled back
   anti-corruption measures and weakened the independence of the courts.
   Along with ex-communist peers Poland and Hungary, it has been heavily
   criticized by Brussels for its actions.

   Protector of rule of law

   However, the 60-year-old Iohannis has been credited by Western allies
   and the European Union with trying to protect the rule of law, in
   particular by challenging attempts to limit judges' independence.

   "I will vote for a president to represent us, one that is respected
   both at home and abroad. This is the one we need," said retired army
   staff Ioan Banu, while heading to a Bucharest college to cast his
   ballot, after polls opened at 0500 GMT.

   The president's powers are mostly limited to nominating a prime
   minister on the basis of who can command a majority, challenging laws
   in the Constitutional Court, and appointing some chief prosecutors.

   If elected again, Iohannis will have a chance to install anti-graft and
   anti-mafia prosecutors who are serious about tackling endemic
   corruption with the backing of Prime Minister Ludovic Orban, who became
   head of a liberal minority government by winning a parliamentary vote
   of confidence three weeks ago.

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