Romania's mayor won the big election two weeks after he died of Coronavirus

Ion Aliman won the third term in Devessel, a village in southern Romania, securing 64 per cent of the vote.

Officials say his name had only been printed on ballot papers and could not be removed after he died in the capital, Bucharest, on 15 September.

This leads to new elections, officials told Reuters, but residents have already visited the mayor's grave to congratulate the victory, the BBC writes, translates Periscopi.

A video on social media shows large groups of villagers gathered around Mr. Alieman's grave.

It's your victory,” a man is heard while he said it.

“He was just mayor for us,” said a woman. “He sided with the village, respected the laws. I don't think we'll have president like him anymore. ”

Aliman was a former naval official and ran the Social Democratic Party. /Periscope