The opposition leader Traian Basescu has won the Romanian presidential election. The electoral commission has confirmed that the centrist leader beat left-winger Adrian Nastase in the tight run-off vote. Basescu took just over 51 per cent of the vote. During his time as the mayor of Bucharest he was known for cleaning up the packs of stray dogs that roamed the city. Now his pledge is to clean up Romania's corrupt officials and businessmen, pushing ahead rapidly with free-market reforms. Prime Minister Adrian Nastase is an ex-communist whose left-wing policies were popular among Romania's rural poor. The next president will play a pivotal role in the hung parliament, as it is his job to nominate the prime minister. The support of independent members of parliament will be needed for any political group to govern effectively. Romania is under pressure from Brussels to meet the European Union's strict requirements on human rights and the rule of law before joining the bloc in 2007. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Opposition presidential candidate Traian Basescu (C).(AFP)