OMEN
06-18-2008, 12:20 PM
Romanian villagers re-elected a dead man as their mayor because they preferred him to his living opponent.
Neculai Ivascu, 57, had run the village of Voinesti since 1990, but died from liver disease just after voting began.
But he still won the election by a margin of 23 votes, reports the Daily Telegraph.
"I know he died but I don't want change," one resident told Romanian TV.
The Central Election Bureau kept the poll open because "the law does not foresee such a situation", a spokesman said.
Ultimately, election authorities awarded the post to runner-up Mr Dobrescu, of the ruling National Liberal Party.
Some villagers and members of Mr Ivascu's powerful opposition Social Democrat Party have demanded a new vote.
Nova
Neculai Ivascu, 57, had run the village of Voinesti since 1990, but died from liver disease just after voting began.
But he still won the election by a margin of 23 votes, reports the Daily Telegraph.
"I know he died but I don't want change," one resident told Romanian TV.
The Central Election Bureau kept the poll open because "the law does not foresee such a situation", a spokesman said.
Ultimately, election authorities awarded the post to runner-up Mr Dobrescu, of the ruling National Liberal Party.
Some villagers and members of Mr Ivascu's powerful opposition Social Democrat Party have demanded a new vote.
Nova