A MAGA-style nationalist who opposes military aid to Ukraine will face one of two pro-European candidates in a runoff which will decide whether Romania remains a committed NATO and EU member of veers off onto another path.
George Simion who easily topped the two opinion polls with between 30 and 33% of the vote is critical of the EU leadership and says he is aligned with the Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again movement.
An hour before polls closed, turnout was 45,61%, or 300,000 voters fewer than it was in the original election in November.
The redo came after last year’s election was cancelled over allegations of Russian and other malign foreign interference.
The election is being watched closely in European capitals, Washington, Kyiv and Moscow.
Romania is an important transit route for weapon systems to Ukraine. Ukraine exports 70% of its grain down the Black Sea coast, through Romanian territorial waters, towards Istanbul. The Romanian air force trains Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s.
The country has a US missile defense shield at Deveselu, and three major airbases from which NATO flies air policing missions up to the border of Ukraine and Moldova, and out over the Black Sea.
Analysts have said a Simion win would risk isolating Romania abroad, erode private investment and destabilize NATO’s eastern flank by adding another disruptor alongside Hungary and Slovakia.
Simion tapped into widespread public anger over the vote cancellation after taking over from far-right contender Călin Georgescu, who topped voting in the cancelled ballot but is now barred from running and under criminal investigation.
Simion has said he could appoint Georgescu as prime minister. Georgescu has said he planned to nationalize companies, stirring unease among investors.
If the polls prove accurate, Simion will face either the popular centrist mayor of Bucharest Nicusor Da or Crin Antonescu, a liberal who represents the governing Social-Democrat and National Liberal coalition.
Former Prime Minister Victor Ponta who has a foot in the nationalist and European camp came fourth the Avangarde and CURS polls showed.
A total of 11 candidates ran for president. The runoff will be held on May 18.
