Romania election too close to call

By Marius Zaharia and Luiza Ilie

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - A leftist party and a centrist group were running neck-and-neck on Monday after most votes had been counted from a parliamentary election in Romania, making lengthy coalition talks and an impotent government likely.

The leftist Social Democrats, heirs to the communist leaders overthrown in 1989, and the centrist Democrat-Liberal Party had both won about 33 percent of votes cast on Sunday for the lower house, results from 93 percent of polling stations showed.

"The important thing is that we will have a relatively fragile coalition no matter what happens," said Lars Christensen, an analyst with Danske Bank.

The ruling Liberal Party trailed on 18 percent after the unusually close election, which underscored divisions in the poor European Union member state of 22 million people.

The Social Democrats tapped into fears about the impact of the global financial crisis and wealth disparities, and promised welfare handouts and tax cuts for the poorest.

A growing middle class also wants to see the implementation of anti-corruption efforts promised by President Traian Basescu, who has close links to the Democrat-Liberal Party.

The two opposition parties also shared the lead in the Senate race, where both received about 34 percent of votes cast.

They are now set to spar over who will head the next government. The centrists have an upper hand because of their links with Basescu, who nominates the prime minister.