Far-right politician George Simion has topped the first round of Romania’s presidential election rerun, after a vote held in November was annulled over allegations of Russian interference.
Simion, who leads the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, will face off against the centrist mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, in a May 18 run-off following Sunday’s vote.
With 99 percent of ballots counted, Simion had 40.5 percent of the vote, compared to Dan’s 20.9 percent.
Former Senator Crin Antonescu, the candidate of the governing coalition, came third, with 20.3 percent of the vote.
Polls opened at 7am local time (04:00 GMT) and closed at 9pm (18:00 GMT). Simion had been expected to win the first round, according to exit polls.
“I want to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who chose to vote [for me] with the number-one position on the ballot paper,” Simion said after the exit poll results were released. “It was an act of courage, trust and solidarity. I am grateful and assure them that their trust will not be betrayed.”
The Constitutional Court nullified the result of the last election won by NATO critic Calin Georgescu, who was barred from contesting Sunday’s rerun.
Georgescu was excluded after authorities said his campaign had been boosted by an inauthentic TikTok campaign and Russian meddling, sparking sometimes violent protests.
He was effectively replaced by Simion, one of 11 candidates for the presidency, which plays a large role in shaping foreign policy.
Simion opposes military aid to neighbouring Ukraine, is critical of European Union leadership and says he is aligned with United States President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement.
Prior to the election, he was polling at about 30 percent, a comfortable lead but well short of the 50 percent needed to avoid a run-off vote.
Dan, a mathematician and activist, backs Ukraine, and is running as an independent on a pro-EU, anticorruption platform.
“George Simion equals Calin Georgescu, he gets my vote,” Aurelia, 66, a pensioner who declined to give her last name, told the Reuters news agency.
She said she felt “humiliated” by the cancellation of November’s first round.
“Everything is lacking here. My children are not here: Did they leave to work abroad because things were so good here?”
Pensioner Eugenia Niculescu, 65, who lives in Bucharest and has struggled to pay for her medication and other bills amid soaring inflation, told the AFP news agency: “We want a capable person who knows how to speak up for the Romanian people in the EU.”
Advertisement
Romania’s president is limited to two five-year terms, and has a semi-executive role that includes commanding the armed forces and chairing the security council that makes decisions on military aid.
The president represents Romania at EU and NATO summits, can veto important EU votes, and appoints the prime minister, chief judges, prosecutors and top intelligence officials.
Aljazeera
