He is well placed to grab the presidency back from the little-loved incumbent, Emil Constantinescu.

ECONOMIST: Romania

Meanwhile Romania's players have declined an offer from President Emil Constantinescu to meet with them for a pep talk prior to the match with Italy.

BBC: Hagi's bald move

Shortly before the miners began their march, Mr Tudor sent them a letter in which he claimed that Romania's president, Emil Constantinescu, was having an affair with an actress.

ECONOMIST: Romania