The Romanians occupy ballot papers on Sunday in a critical presidential election after the annulled coordination last year had overthrew the European Union and the NATO member country into the worst political crisis for decades.
Eleven candidates compete for the presidency and an outflow of May 18 is expected. The surveys were opened at 7 a.m. and are closed at 9 p.m.
At 5 p.m., 7.1 million people – around 39.6 percent of the legitimate voters – had given a ballot paper according to the central electoral office, with 799,000 votes in the polling stations set up in other countries.
The political landscape of the Romania was shaken last year when a top court in which the right-wing extremist outsider Calin Georgescu cited the first round, after allegations of the election violations and Russian interference, cited Moscow.
As in many EU countries, the anti-establishment mood in Romania runs high and is fueled by high inflation and living costs, a large budget deficit and a sluggish economy. Observers say that the discomfort has supported the support for nationalist and right -wing extremist numbers such as Georgescu, which is examined and is excluded from repetition.
While data from local surveys should be made with caution, a median of the surveys indicate that right -wing extremist George Simion will enter the drain, which will probably use him against Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan or the candidate of the government coalition, Crin Antonescu.
With Georgescu in a polling station in the capital, Bucharest, Simion told reporters on Sunday morning:
Georgescu called the vote again “a fraud that was orchestrated by those who have made fraud into the only state politics”, said that he was there to recognize the power of democracy, the power of the vote that frightens the system that frightens the system.
Widespread distrust of the authorities
Dan, a 55-year-old mathematician and former anti-corruption activist, who founded the Save Romania Union Party (USR) in 2016, runs on a “Ehrlich Romania” ticket from EU. After submitting his ballot paper, he said that he voted “for hope and a new beginning” for Romania. “I was right with realism because Romania is going through a difficult time,” he said.
Antonescu, 65, an experienced center who campaigned for the storage of the pro-Western orientation of Romania, said on Sunday that he voted for “a United Romania for a strong Romania for a worthy Romania”.
Victor Ponta, who was Prime Minister from 2012 to 2015, also has a Maga campaign in the style of the Romania in the style of “Romania” and boast of having close relationships with Trump administration.
Another hopeful Elena Lasconi became second in last year’s ballot papers of the past year and takes part in the repetition. She has positioned herself as a strict pro-Western, anti-system candidate who comes against what she describes as a corrupt political class.
Distrust in the authorities is still widespread, especially for those who voted for Georgescu, a considerable electorate that Simion has commissioned.
“The feelings against establishment is not like an anarchic movement, but against the people who destroyed this country,” said Simion, who became fourth in last year and later supported Georgescu, the Associated Press days before the scope. “We are no longer a democratic state.”
Rares Ghiorghies, 36, who works in the energy sector and voted for Simion, hopes that, if he secures the presidency, “can return to the basic principles of democracy, back to regain our trust”.
“What happened in December 2024 is definitely a dark chapter in the history of this country, and we can no longer accept it,” he said. “I hope things will be normal again.”
Crossing point for Romania
Simion said that his right-wing extremist alliance for the unity of the Romanian Party “completely corresponds to the Maga movement” and, after a growing wave of populism in Europe after the political comeback of US President Donald Trump, benefits from a growing wave of populism. Aur increased in a parliamentary election in 2020, announced for “family, nation, faith and freedom” and has doubled his support since then.
Pensioner has made Chiritoi, he feels robbed in his previous voice, which has left him for the political class with “only bad words”. “If my voice is canceled again or if the one I chose is not chosen, I’ll take to the street,” he said.
The choice is a crossroads for Romania to restore its democracy and to maintain its geopolitical alliances, which have been tensed since the canceled election fiasco.
The decision to cancel the choice and prohibition of Georgescus candidacy criticized the US Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk and Russia, which publicly supported his candidacy in the Rerun.
The role of the president has a term of five years and considerable decision -making powers in national security and foreign policy.
