Romanians will go to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president amid EU concern over what they say is the country's backsliding in the fight against corruption and reform of the justice system.

What is the president's role? 

In Romania's semi-presidential system, the president is in charge of defence and foreign policy and names the chiefs of the country's two main intelligence agencies, as well as top prosecutors and ambassadors.

The president is the head of state, while the prime minister is the head of government. 

The president's ability to influence domestic policy is limited, but in recent years, the role has been perceived by Romanians as a driving force in tackling state corruption. 

What is at stake in this election?

The fight against corruption remains a key issue for many voters. Tens of thousands of Romanians took part in a wave of protests across the country two years ago against the government's efforts to water down anti-corruption measures.  

The legislation, which was eventually halted amid pressure from protesters, was aimed at making it hard to prosecute high-level corruption, according to critics.

Hundreds of people were injured in the protests, including two dozen police officers. 

The European Union has repeatedly called on Romania not to dilute efforts to fight high-level corruption.

Further protests erupted over state corruption and efforts to undermine the judiciary. A key moment was July 2018, when Laura Codruta Kovesi, the head of Romania's anti-corruption agency, was fired. 

She was removed by the then-governing Social Democrats, an act many in Romania believe was political retaliation for her department's successes.

With then-Prime Minister Viorica Dancila and others openly advocating against her, Kovesi called her recent appointment as the EU's chief European prosecutor a vote of confidence for all prosecutors and judges in her country.

The judiciary's independence is also high on the public agenda in Romania. In recent years, the country has tackled some of its high-profile corrupt politicians, who were sent to prison. 

In May, the country's most powerful politician, Liviu Dragnea, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for official misconduct in a graft case. 

Who are the candidates?  

Klaus Iohannis is the country's incumbent president. He wants to continue the fight against corruption, lead a "normal" Romania and guarantee an independent judicial system.

He pledges to strengthen relations with the EU, NATO and the US and increase the American military presence in Romania, with the Trump administration viewing Romania as "a particularly important ally."

Iohannis, an ethnic German, was the mayor of the Transylvanian city of Sibiu before winning his first mandate. His victory in 2014 was seen as representative for a young, educated, well-traveled generation.

Mircea Diaconu is a retired actor and former Member of the European Parliament (MEP), who runs as an independent but is backed by two parties, ALDE and Pro Romania. He pledges to work for a more prosperous, secure and competitive country.

Viorica Dancila is the leader of the Social Democratic Party. She was the country's prime minister between January 2018 and October 2019, when her government, beset by corruption scandals, lost a vote of no-confidence in the legislature.

Opposition lawmakers blamed Dancila and her cabinet for mismanaging the economy, deteriorating public safety and trying to bring the judicial system under government control.

Dancila was a member of the European Parliament and a relatively unknown figure in domestic politics until she became prime minister. She was picked for the top job by her party colleague Dragnea.

She pledges to offer Romanians a decent standard of living and guarantees not to cut salaries and pensions for public sector workers if she wins the election.

Dan Barna is the candidate backed by the alliance between Save Romania and Plus, led by former prime minister Dacian Ciolos.  Barna pledges to offer Romanians the "right to be happy in Romania."

Theodor Paleologu, a former culture minister, runs for the Popular Movement Party (PMP) of former president Traian Basescu.

Kelemen Hunor runs for The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania or RMDSZ, which is representing the Hungarian community of Transylvania.

In total, there are 14 candidates running for the presidential role. The other candidates are: Viorel Catarama (Liberal Right Party), Ramona Ioana Bruynssels (Humanist Party Power), Catalin Ivan (The Alternate for Romanian Dignity), Alexandru Cumpanasu (independent), Bogdan Stanoevici (independent), John Ion Banu (Romanian Nation Party), Ninel Peia (Romanian Nationhood Party) and Sebastian-Constantin Popescu (New Romania Party).

Who is likely to win?

Klaus Iohannis, the incumbent president, is the front-runner in the upcoming presidential elections, according to an IMAS opinion poll commissioned by Europa FM and published two weeks ahead of election day.

The poll predicts Iohannis would lead with 45.7 percent of votes but would fall short of an absolute majority (above 50 percent) in the first round, which means a run-off will likely take place.

He is followed by Mircea Diaconu with 16.7 percent support. The poll shows Viorica Dancila trailing far behind Iohannis, who was a strong critic of her government, on 15.5 percent. Dan Barna would take 12.6 percent, Theodor Paleologu 6.9 percent and Kelemen Hunor 2.9 percent.

The candidate who gets an absolute majority will become the country's next president, a 5-year post with limited powers. 

If no candidate wins an outright majority in the first round, the run-off will be held on 24 November between the two contenders with the highest numbers of votes in the first round.

Where is Romania heading to?

Romania has changed dramatically in the 30 years since the 1989 Revolution as it became a market economy and democracy. 

It joined The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in 2004 and the European Union in 2007. 

However, its justice system remains under special monitoring due to long-running concerns over the rule of law and corruption.

The European Commission criticized Romania last month for failing to implement anti-corruption measures.  

According to the Commission's latest report under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM), "The key institutions of Romania need to collectively demonstrate a strong commitment to judicial independence and the fight against corruption, and to ensure the effectiveness of national safeguards and checks and balances."

Despite EU criticism, there is a growing anti-corruption movement in the Romanian society with various civic movements emerging in recent years.

The EU is expected to keep up pressure on Romania to strengthen the rule of law and its anti-corruption legal framework and judicial independence.