The outcome of Romania’s presidential election has the potential to alter the direction of the nation, which is a pro-EU and NATO member that shares a border with Ukraine, a country experiencing conflict.
Voters in Romania have started casting their ballots in a closely contested presidential runoff. The election pits a right-wing nationalist who opposes providing military assistance to Ukraine against a centrist candidate who is pro-EU.
Polls opened at 7 am local time on Sunday and will close at 9 pm. The result of this high-stakes election will have significant implications for Romania’s geopolitical path.
George Simion, a 38-year-old hard-right nationalist who opposes military aid to Ukraine and is critical of EU leadership, emerged as the clear winner in the first round of the presidential election. His victory led to the collapse of a pro-Western coalition government and significant capital outflows.
However, in December, Romania’s top court annulled the results of the first round due to allegations of Russian interference. The court also disqualified leading nationalist candidate Calin Georgescu, paving the way for Simion, who is a self-declared fan of former United States President Donald Trump and has expressed openness towards Russia.
Nicusor Dan, the 55-year-old centrist Bucharest Mayor, is competing against Simion in the runoff. Dan has vowed to combat corruption and is staunchly pro-EU and NATO. He believes that Romania’s support for Ukraine is crucial for its own security in light of the growing Russian threat.
Romania’s election is taking place on the same day as Poland’s presidential election, where pro-EU Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski is expected to face conservative historian Karol Nawrocki. A victory for Simion and/or Trzaskowski would contribute to the growing number of eurosceptic leaders in central Europe, potentially causing divisions within the EU.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/18/romanians-cast-ballots-in-tense-presidential-run-off?traffic_source=rss
