Bucharest mayor to face PM in Romania poll

Popular Bucharest mayor Traian Basescu will face Prime Minister Adrian Nastase in Romania's presidential race after being invited yesterday by an opposition alliance to replace their main candidate who quit.

Presidential candidate Theodor Stolojan withdrew from the race citing health problems on Saturday, shocking his Truth and Justice Alliance ahead of November 28 elections, scheduled shortly before the ex-communist country is due to finish EU entry talks.

"The executive body of the Liberal Party proposed to nominate Traian Basescu as our presidential candidate," Calin Tariceanu, Liberal party vice-president, told a news conference.

Mr Basescu said earlier he would run for the country's top job if asked to do so by his partners in the coalition, which ranks second in opinion polls to Mr Nastase's ruling ex-communist Social Democrat Party (PSD).

Mr Stolojan, 61, was the alliance's only established politician to be put forward.

Mr Basescu had promised Bucharest voters he would finish his term before winning a landslide victory against Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana in June municipal elections.

Mr Stolojan ranked second in voters' preferences with around 28 per cent in a recent opinion poll, followed by the leader of the ultra-nationalist Greater Romania Party, Corneliu Vadim Tudor, with around nine per cent.

The opposition Liberals and Democrats need strong leadership to have a fighting chance and can now only pin their hopes on Mr Basescu, 52, analysts said.

Admired by foreign diplomats for his frankness, Mr Basescu is the government's most fiery political opponent and the former sea captain is sure to give Mr Nastase a tough challenge.