Economic woes dominate Romania poll

Romanians are set for a runoff presidential election that pits Traian Basescu, the incumbent, against Mircea Geoana, his Social Democrat rival.

The two candidates hold opposing views on how to tackle Romania’s economic ills – an expected eight per cent drop in gross domestic product and strikes by police officers and teachers over pay and conditions.

While Basescu has pledged to introduce budget cuts, Geoana says that an increase in government investment is the only way to keep the country’s economy stable over the long term.

Al Jazeera’s Barnaby Phillips reports from Bucharest.