Polling stations in Romania opened on Sunday at 7:00 local time for the second round of the presidential election, where far-right candidate George Simion faces Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan.
Simion, who secured over 40% of the votes in the first round, remains the favourite, though Dan could overtake him with strong voter mobilisation. Dan received just under 21% in the initial round.
Simion, an admirer of both US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, is highly critical of the European Union and opposes aid to Ukraine. In contrast, Dan advocates a pro-Western direction for Romania.
On 24 November last year, to everyone’s surprise, little-known right-wing nationalist candidate Calin Georgescu won the first round of the elections in the EU and NATO member state. However, two weeks later, just days before the second round, the Constitutional Court ordered a redo of the entire process after it was found that Russia unlawfully influenced Georgescu’s campaign via the social media platform TikTok.
The president holds a largely ceremonial role but wields significant influence in foreign policy.
