If the exit polls are confirmed by official results on Monday, President Traian Basescu will face Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana in the runoff on Dec. 6.

Sunday's election, which involved a dozen candidates, was aimed at ending a leadership crisis in Romania that threatens a euro1.5 billion IMF loan the country desperately needs to ease a painful recession.

One exit polls says Basescu won 34.1% of the votes, compared to 30.9% for Geoana. The other says Basescu won 32.8%, compared to 31.7% for Geoana.