Bucharest, Nov 3 (IANS): Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta led in the first round of the presidential elections, gaining between 38 percent to 41.5 percent of the votes.
According to an exit poll, Ponta's main political opponent, Klaus Iohannis of the Christian Liberal Alliance came second with between 31 percent to 32.1 percent of the votes, Xinhua reported.
The other candidates remained far behind the top two candidates, obtaining not more than six percent of the votes.
Ponta and Iohannis will contest in the presidential run-off Nov 16.
The presidential elections were held in Romania Sunday, with 14 candidates competing.
Romania's president is elected every five years, with a only two consecutive terms allowed.
President Traian Basescu was first elected in the 2004 and re-elected in 2009.