Incumbent President Klaus Iohannis won the first round of Romania's presidential election with 38.7 percent of votes, according to exit polls. 

He will most likely compete against Social Democrat leader Viorica Dancila, who received 22 percent of votes, in a runoff elections on 24 November. The electoral bureau claimed that 48 percent of voters participated in this election. 

Iohannis, a member of the country's ethnic German minority, was first elected in 2014. During his term, Iohannis, backed by the centre-right PNL, clashed with the former left-wing PSD government, which collapsed last month, over its judicial reforms.

The PSD's Viorica Dancila, who served as prime minister from 2016, is his key rival for the role.

The election came against the backdrop of European Union's concern over what they say is backsliding in the fight against corruption and reform of the justice system.

"Romanians are deciding on the future of their country," the 60-year-old Iohannis said as he cast his ballot in the capital Bucharest. After casting her own vote Dancila told supporters she voted "for a safe and dignified Romania".

Read more: In-depth feature on the issues and candidates in Romanian election

Earlier this week MPs gave their backing to a government which is being led by the PNL's Ludovic Orban.

Romania's president is head of state and nominates a prime minister, who has executive powers, after consultation with political parties. The president is also in charge of defence and foreign policy.  The president's ability to directly influence domestic policy is limited but they can veto laws adopted by parliament by challenging them in the constitutional court or by sending them back to be re-considered.

Voting opened at many locations abroad on Friday and by Sunday evening 660,000 diaspora Romanians had voted, a record for the first round of a presidential election.