RESIDENTS OF a Romanian village re-elected their mayor – even though he was dead.
He won Sunday’s municipal election despite the fact that he had recently died from liver disease.
Neculai Ivascu, who was 57, governed the small village of Voinesti in north eastern Romania, for more than 20 years.
He died just before the voting campaign was to begin but he still managed to hold off competition from his nearest challenger.
Gheorghe Dobreanu, the second place candidate, lost out by just 23 votes. Authorities decided to keep the poll open in case Dobreanu won, therefore avoiding the need for a re-run.
Villagers said that they were well aware of the circumstances and that Ivascu was dead, but they were happy with the regime and they did not want any change.
Eventually election authorities gave the post to Dobreanu, but the decision is expected to be appealed by Ivascu’s party, the Social Democrats.
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