Millions of voters go to the polls in Romania for a rerun of presidential elections on Sunday with potentially big consequences for Europe and Ukraine.
Far-right candidate George Simion is the frontrunner in a presidential runoff against centrist Bucharest Mayor, Nicusor Dan in what commentators say is the most crucial election since the collapse of communism.
The original vote last year was annulled and its shock far-right winner was banned from standing again amid allegations of Russian interference and other irregularities. Moscow denies meddling.
Simion, is a EU critic and admirer of Donald Trump in a vote that analysts have called the most important in the country’s post-communist history.
Polls show the gap between the two narrowing, with one putting them neck and neck and others giving Dan a slight advantage.
Riding a wave of voter frustration with Romania’s political establishment, Simion has promised to appoint as prime minister Călin Georgescu, the winner of last November’s cancelled vote.
The ballot is being closely watched by the EU. A Simion win could weaken the EU in the region as the nationalist frontrunner shares similar policies with Hungary and Slovakia. Vice President JD Vance accused Bucharest of trampling on democracy after the original vote was voided and Georgescu barred from standing in the rerun.
Romania’s president has a semi-executive role with considerable powers over foreign policy, national security, defense spending and judicial and intelligence appointments. The president represents the country at NATO meetings and at the EU, and can veto important votes.
