Romania in the elections! Vote amid tensions, the risk of an extreme nationalist coming to power

Romanian citizens are heading to the polls today in a repeat round of presidential elections, which is expected to bring a controversial figure from the far right – George Simion – to the center of the political scene.

The 38-year-old candidate leads the polls with a message against military aid to Ukraine, nationalist rhetoric and strong criticism of the European Union.

The elections are taking place nearly six months after the cancellation of the first round, amid allegations of widespread Russian interference in the electoral process.

An investigation by Romanian authorities has uncovered evidence of an organized influence campaign, cyberattacks and social media manipulation in support of the previous candidate, Călin Georgescu. He was expelled from the race after allegations of false campaign finance reporting and links to fascist groups.

Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), has taken advantage of public anger over the annulment of the elections and the banning of Georgescu.

Although he has positioned himself as more "moderate", Simion follows a strong sovereignist line, has criticized Brussels, calls for the return of historical territories and considers himself a "natural ally" of former US President Donald Trump.

He has gained great popularity on social media, especially on TikTok, where he counts over 1.3 million followers, using an emotional and direct communication style to promote his nationalist message.

Despite this broad support, polls show that he is likely to face one of his centrist rivals – Nicușor Dan or Crin Antonescu – in a second round of the run-off on May 18, as it is impossible to win over 50% of the vote in the first round.

The President of Romania has important powers in foreign policy, national security, and the country's international representation, making this vote crucial for the country's future direction in relation to the West and NATO.

Polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. and will close at 9:00 p.m. local time. Initial exit polls are expected to be released shortly after closing, but final results may be delayed due to the large number of votes cast abroad.

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