MOSCOW, November 17 (Sputnik) — Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta concedes his loss Sunday in in the country's presidential runoff to center-right candidate Klaus Iohannis.
“I called Mr Iohannis and I congratulated him,” Ponta told reporters, as quoted by Deutsche Welle, although no official vote results have been published yet.
The prime minister also rejected the rumors that he would resign. "I have no reason to resign," Ponta told a local television station.
The exit polls showed the two candidates neck to neck. The official results are expected to be announced on Monday.
Turnout was about 62 percent, according to Romania's Central Electoral Bureau.
Romania's Prime Minister Victor Ponta was leading in the first round of the presidential elections, which took place on November 2, with some 10-percent over his nearest rival Klaus Iohannis, the mayor of Sibiu and the president of the National Liberal Party.
