BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — On Sunday, Romanians participated in a crucial rerun of the presidential election after last year’s vote was annulled, plunging the EU and NATO member nation into its most severe political crisis in decades.
The official counting of votes commenced when polling stations closed at 9 p.m. (1800 GMT), and the electoral authorities are expected to gradually release the results. With eleven candidates in the race, a runoff is anticipated on May 18. As of poll closure, approximately 9.57 million voters, equating to 53.2% of those eligible, had cast their votes, with nearly 973,000 ballots submitted from polling stations abroad.
Romania’s political scene was shaken in the previous year when a top court annulled the last election, where the far-right outsider Calin Georgescu led the first round. This followed allegations of electoral malpractice and Russian meddling, which has been denied by Moscow.
Like many EU nations, Romania is experiencing strong anti-establishment feelings driven by high inflation, a significant budget deficit, and a stagnating economy. Observers believe this climate has increased support for nationalist and far-right figures such as Georgescu, who is currently under investigation and barred from participating in the rerun.
While local poll data should be interpreted cautiously, the median suggests that hard-right nationalist George Simion is likely to reach the runoff, potentially facing off against Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan or the candidate from the ruling coalition, Crin Antonescu.
At a polling station in Bucharest, Simion expressed: “We are here with one mission only: to restore constitutional order and democracy. Our aim is first place for the Romanian people.” Georgescu labeled the rerun a “fraud orchestrated by those who have made deceit the only state policy,” emphasizing the importance of the vote in preserving democracy.
Simion’s hard-right nationalist party is aligned with the MAGA movement, tapping into a growing wave of populism in Europe originating from Trump’s political resurgence. He stated, “The anti-establishment sentiment is directed against those who have harmed this country.” As Romania faces a pivotal moment, the electoral outcomes are crucial for reviving its democratic values and maintaining its geopolitical relationships.
