Romania: Partial results point to runoff election between PM, mayor in presidential race

Romanian Prime Minister and presidential candidate of the ruling Social Democracy Party (PSD), Victor Ponta, gestures during a media conference following the presidential elections in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014. Romanians are voting Sunday to elect a new leader as President Traian Basescu steps down after 10 years, with the prime minister favored to win in the nation of 19 million. (AP Photo/Octav Ganea, Mediafax) ROMANIA OUT (The Associated Press)

Klaus Iohannis, leader of Romania's centre-right Liberals and mayor of the Transylvanian city of Sibiu reacts upon seeing exit polls in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014. Romanians voted in the first round of the presidential elections. According to exit polls Prime Minister Victor Ponta leads after the first round followed by Romania's centre-right Liberals candidate Klaus Iohannis. An election runoff will be held on Nov. 16. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru, Mediafax) ROMANIA OUT (The Associated Press)

BUCHAREST, Romania – Partial results show that Romania's center-left prime minister will face a city mayor in the runoff of a presidential election after no candidate secured a majority of the vote.

With 56 percent of the votes counted early Monday, Prime Minister Victor Ponta had won 39.6 percent of the vote while the mayor of Sibiu, Klaus Iohannis, had 30.2 percent.

Romanians were voting to elect a new leader as President Traian Basescu steps down after 10 years.

Ponta, 42, says if he wins there will be stability and an end to bitter feuding between the prime minister and president.

Iohannis, 55, who is center-right, says he will guarantee an independent justice system and the rule of law.

Final results are expected later Monday. The runoff will be on Nov. 16.