A total of five independent candidates will run for president in this year’s elections in Romania, scheduled to take place in November, reports local Digi24. The five candidates are Monica Macovei, Gheorghe Funar, Ioan Ghise, Marian Bataiosu and Remus Cernea.

The first round of this year’s presidential elections is on November 2 and the second round will take place on November 16. Some 18 million Romanians have the right to vote, but almost 3 million of them are abroad.

According to a recent poll, Prime Minister Victor Ponta, a PSD candidate, would get 46% of the votes in the first round of the presidential elections and would win the second round with 58% of the votes.

Romania to spend EUR 9 mln more on this year’s presidential elections than in 2009.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Monica Macovei on Facebook)