Romanians were voting in presidential elections Sunday that could shatter their country’s reputation as a reliable EU and NATO ally in the region.
The presidential ballot is followed by crucial parliamentary elections on December 1 and a likely presidential runoff on December 8.
There are 13 candidates running for Romania’s top job, including two clear favorites_ the center-left Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and hard-right hopeful, George Simion.
By 2:00 p.m., after six hours of voting, about 25 % of the electorate_ had voted in the first round of the presidential elections, the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP) said.
Sandwiched between the two presidential elections are parliamentary elections on 1 December. The solidly pro-European NATO and EU member could see its reputation as a reliable partner on the southeast flank implode in the next month.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who is backed by Romania’s largest party, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) has first place. He has been hit by allegations that he had links to a corrupt real estate deal which he denies. He is likely to build relations with Hungarian strongman, Viktor Orban.
Hard-right nationalist George Simion is also in with a chance of winning and is currently polling in second place with 15%.
He heads the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) and is a staunch anti-European nationalist although he has toned down his message during the campaign. Pro-Western governments in Ukraine and Moldova have declared Simion a persona non grata for meddling in internal politics. He faces accusations that he is an agent of the Kremlin, something he denies.
Ciolacu said he has a “clear plan for a more developed Romania that leaves no one behind, an internal plan based on economic growth on investments and a plan for a more respected and influential Romania abroad.”
Besides Ciolacu and Simion, other key candidates are Elena Lasconi of the progressive Save Romania Union party, and Nicolae Ciuca, a former army general and prime minister of the center-right National Liberal Party.
former NATO deputy general secretary Mircea Geoana, is running as an independent.
The presidential term is five years and the head of state is in charge of foreign policy, national security. He or she also names the heads of the intelligence agencies and appoints key prosecutors.
Polls opened at 7am and will close at 9pm.
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