Exclusive - Romania's Ponta could face leadership challenge

Romania's Prime Minister Victor Ponta attends a news conference in Bucharest November 17, 2014. REUTERS/Grigore Popescu

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta could face a leadership challenge next year from within his own ranks, as the ruling Social Democrat party looks to contain the fallout from an embarrassing presidential election defeat.

Senior party officials told Reuters that the Social Democrats (PSD) may hold a special congress in February or March to take stock, after Ponta surrendered a ten-point lead to lose last Sunday's election to underdog Klaus Iohannis.