Far-right Eurosceptic and nationalist candidate Gheorghe Simion is leading in the first round of Romania's presidential run-off election on Sunday, partial results showed, after a vote seen as a test of the rise of US President Donald Trump-style nationalism in the European Union (EU), Reuters reported.
Results from 50 percent of polling stations showed former senator Crin Antonescu (65) in second place, with 23 percent, behind Simion, who has 42 percent.
In third place is Bucharest Mayor Nicosor Dan (55), with 16 percent of the vote.
The top two candidates will face off in a second round on May 18th.
Reuters reports that political observers say a Simeon victory could isolate the country, erode private investment and destabilize NATO's eastern flank, where Ukraine is fighting a three-year Russian invasion.
"This is not just an electoral victory, it is a victory for Romanian dignity. It is a victory of those who have not lost hope, of those who still believe in Romania, a free, respected, sovereign country," Simion said.
Capitalizing on a wave of popular anger against mainstream leaders, Simion (38) opposes military aid to neighboring Ukraine, is critical of EU leadership and says he aligns with the US president's "Make America Great Again (MAGA)" movement.
Antonescu, who has been absent from politics for a decade, wants to continue Romania's significant role in supporting Ukraine and is well-known to the electorate.
Today's vote comes five months after the first attempt to hold the election was canceled due to alleged Russian interference in favor of far-right candidate Calin Đorđescu, who was banned from running again.
Voted together with Đorđescu
Simion voted alongside Đorđescu, who called the elections a "fraud" and called on the people to take back their country.
As dozens of people gathered outside the polling station chanting "Kalin for president," Simion said his vote was "to restore democracy."
"It is possible that the diaspora vote will be enough to push Dan into the second round," said Sergiu Miscoiu, a political science professor at Babes-Boliai University, Reuters reports.
"But Dan might have a harder time against Simeone," he said.
And polls show that Simion has the most votes
Beta Agency previously reported that two polls conducted among voters showed that Simion received the most votes in today's first round of the presidential election in Romania.
At the end of voting at 21 p.m., Simion, leader of the nationalist AUR party, was said to have won 30 to 33 percent of the vote, ahead of the candidate of the pro-European ruling coalition, Crin Antonescu, who is running alongside Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan. They won between 21 and 23 percent of the vote, the polls showed.
There are 11 candidates in the race to succeed President Klaus Iohannis, and if none of them wins an absolute majority of votes, a second round of elections will be held on May 18th.
Reuters previously reported that the exit poll data did not include significant votes from Romanians abroad, where Simion and Dan are popular.
Simion says he will not betray the trust
Simion also said that he would not betray the trust Romanians have placed in him, after exit polls showed that he won the most votes in the first round.
"I want to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who chose to vote (for me) as number one on the ballot. It was an act of courage, trust and solidarity. I am grateful and I assure them that their trust will not be betrayed," he said in a recorded message, as reported by Reuters.
Bucharest Mayor Nicosor Dan urged caution.
"Let's be cautious about the exit poll results... because they are without (the votes of) the diaspora. So, let's wait for the accurate vote count that will come later tonight," Dan told supporters.
MAGA style
Reuters reports that Simion is not the only MAGA-style politician seeking to be elected in Central Europe.
Karol Nawrocki, the presidential candidate endorsed by Poland's main nationalist opposition party in the May 18 presidential election, met with Trump this Sunday.
If elected, they would expand the cohort of Eurosceptic leaders that already includes the Hungarian and Slovak prime ministers, according to Reuters.
"Romania and Poland are two important countries for the US. We represent partners and we represent allies, both military and political, to the current (US) administration. That is why it is important that MAGA presidents are in charge in Bucharest and Warsaw," Simion told Reuters on Friday.
The President of Romania has a semi-executive role that includes commanding the armed forces and chairing the security council, which decides on military assistance.
To date, Romania has donated a Patriot air defense battery to Kiev, is training Ukrainian fighter pilots, and has facilitated the export of 30 million metric tons of Ukrainian grain through its Black Sea port of Constanta since the beginning of the Russian invasion.
The country's president can also veto important EU votes and appoint the prime minister, chief judges, prosecutors and heads of secret services.
The Trump administration has accused Romania of suppressing political opposition and lacking democratic values after the November elections were canceled, based on what US Vice President J.D. Vance called "weak evidence."
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