ROMANIANS turned their hacks on former communists in weekend elections as the liberal opposition took control of parliament and its candidate appeared well placed against President Ion Iliescu in a run off for the presidency, according to preliminary results yesterday.
In the first round of the presidential poll, Mr Emil Constantinescu, of the Democratic Convention, was a close second to Mr Iliescu, a former communist who has ruled the country since 1989.
Mr Iliescu was leading on 31.8 per cent of the vote, followed by Mr Constantinescu on 28.5 per cent and a former prime minister, Mr Petre Roman, on 21.4 per cent. The top two face a run off on November 17th.