Klaus Iohannis wins Romanian presidential election

Romanian Liberal Party leader Klaus Iohannis has won the presidential election with 54 percent of the vote, while rival social democrat and Prime Minister Victor Ponta garnered 45 percent, according to preliminary official results released on Monday.

After counting 96 percent of the votes from Sunday’s election, the Central Election Commission announced Iohannis as the winner.

Iohannis had already proclaimed his victory on Sunday night.

The liberal political is waiting for a court decision on whether he violated the compatibility standards of public office as he was the mayor of Transylvania’s main city of Sibiu and the chairman of the Municipal Corporation for Water Supply.

The decision would determine his eligibility for the presidency.

If the court allows, Iohannis would replace Traian Basescu and become the fourth elected president in the history of Romania.

Voter turnout was 64 percent in the second and final round of the elections, a high figure compared to the previous votes in the east European country.

“Thanks to you, another kind of Romania is beginning. The Romania we want is not one of conflict or revenge,” Johannis told supporters.

The prime minister acknowledged his defeat and congratulated Iohannis for winning the elections, noting that he will not resign from his post.