Dead Romanian wins mayoral vote

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

BUCHAREST (AFP) — The mayor of a tiny town in northeastern Romania who won re-election in municipal elections, died before he could take office, the Electoral Commission said Monday.

The commission in a controversial decision, declared the former mayor's rival, and runner-up.

The death of the 58-year-old Neculai Ivascu, who had held the post for 18 years, was announced early Sunday, too late to cancel the contest.

Local residents said they still voted for him "to prevent his rival from winning." The mayor received 23 more votes than his opponent, Gheorghe Dobreanu, of the ruling National Liberal party.

Ivascu's opposition Social Democratic party has already said it will contest the electoral commission's decision.

Around 1,700 other local...