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# “I waited five hours to elect my president”
- URL: https://www.birminghameastside.co.uk/romanian-presidential-elections-birmingham/
- Published: 2014-11-18T07:25:43.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-14T10:07:42.000Z
- Author: Ion Mates
- Tags: News, Politics, Video, #Migrated-1786701253228, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-14 09:54

**Birmingham City Council** acted as a voting centre for **Romanians** wishing to elect their **president**.

The second-stage-clash was between German-born[ **Klaus Iohannis**](https://web.archive.org/web/20141205115120/http://www.iohannispresedinte.ro/) and [controversial](https://web.archive.org/web/20141205115120/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jul/17/romania-eu-report-constitution-abuse) prime minister [**Victor Ponta**](https://web.archive.org/web/20141205115120/http://victorponta.ro/). This was one of only a **handful** of voting centres in the UK, a fact that sparked **outrage** for Romanians living abroad.

People joined a queue that almost **surrounded the council and art gallery** in Chamberlain Square. It was well after **nightfall** that most of them finally got to have a say as Romanian citizens.

Andreea Cojocaru, student at Birmingham City University said:

> “Even if to be 20 is said not to have much knowledge in politics to make the right decision, **this time Ponta made our task easy.** You needn’t know of Iohannis of have the faintest idea what politics is about. **Ponta gave us all the reasons to vote against him.**  
>  
> **infernal queue**

Klaus Iohannis won the elections with [54.5% of votes](https://web.archive.org/web/20141205115120/http://www.realitatea.net/rezultate-alegeri-prezidentiale-partiale-oficiale-iohannis-55-79prc-ponta-44-2prc%5F1571872.html?utm%5Fsource=Cub-Homepage&utm%5Fmedium=Clicks&utm%5Fcampaign=trkweb) in his favour, making him the **new president of Romania.**