Romania's staid election campaign has been shaken after a former bodybuilder turned senator hurled a glass of water at a female rival during a heated TV debate.

Anca Constantinescu taunted Marius Marinescu during the Wednesday night debate on B1 channel calling him "a bidet."

Marinescu retorted: "You have a face like a bidet, lady.... You are such a small person."

Constantinescu then angrily flicked water onto the senator's lap.

He then turned to her and threw a glass of water at her face, eliciting a shocked gasp from the presenter.

Marinescu briefly apologized and continued the discussion saying, without a trace of irony "There is so much uncouthness in the Romanian election."

AP