Two exit polls say the pro-European mayor of Bucharest Nicusor Dan has defeated a MAGA-style nationalist who opposes military aid to Ukraine in the presidential runoff.
Two opinion polls gave Dan over 54% of the vote to Simion’s 45%. The exit polls did not take into account votes in the large diaspora.
“We are living a moment of hope. I ask you to be patient with what happens next,” Dan said after the exit polls closed. “A community of Romanians which want deep change in Romania won today. They want the state institutions to work, a reduction in corruption and a prosperous economic climate, a community that wants dialogue, not hatred.”
George Simion who was critical of the EU leadership and says he is aligned with the Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again movement.
Tunrout was high, with more than 64% before polls closed.
The redo came after last year’s election was cancelled over allegations of Russian and other malign foreign interference.
The election was 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 say 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 promised to appoint Georgescu as prime minister. Georgescu has said he planned to nationalize companies, stirring unease among investors.
