BUCHAREST: Incumbent President Traian Basescu, who describes himself as a “fighter”, and Social-Democrat diplomat Mircea Geoana are the main contenders in the presidential race in Romania tomorrow.

The two men, both in their fifties and former members of the Communist regime, were keen to underline their opposite personalities in the campaign ahead of the vote, the first one since Romania joined the European Union in 2007.

A quick glance at their websites reveals huge style differences.

While Traian Basescu, “the ally of the people” displays photos of himself addressing crowds of supporters or waving the Romanian flag, Geoana aligned pictures showing him shaking hands with top world leaders ranging from Kofi Annan to Javier Solana.

Basescu, 58, a former sea captain who became president in 2004, promises to continue his “fight against dubious businessmen and media moguls” whom he accuses of “pulling the strings” of his opponent’s Social Democratic Party (PSD).

“I was the one to stop doubtful privatisations,” he hammered in a meeting in Cluj 600 kilometres northwest of Bucharest, implicitly accusing the rival PSD of underhand practices while in power for most of the 20 years since the fall of the communist regime in 1989.

Basescu seems never more at ease than among crowds of people, traditional dancers or angry farmers that he once went to meet, a megaphone in hand, in front of his presidential palace.

Even if he was a former member of the Ceausescu regime, Basescu is keen to repeat that he was the first Romanian president to officially condemn the communist crimes in a famous speech held in December 2006.

His supporters as well as his opponents talk about a “political animal.”

“Basescu is guided by his temper and he knows quite well how to take advantage of his rivals’ weaknesses,” political analyst Daniel Barbu said.

One of his opponents, Liberal candidate Crin Antonescu, accused him of being a “tyrant”.

But Basescu refuted the allegation.