Bucharest
Reuters
–
Euroskeptical George Simion won the first round of Romania’s presidential election on Sunday, partial results have been shown after a vote that was considered a test of the rise of Donald Trump-style nationalism in the European Union.
Almost 98% of the votes at the voting station show that 55-year-old Bucharest mayor Nixondan came in second place with about 21%, behind Simion’s 40%. If the final result confirms the read after diaspora votes are counted, they will meet during the leak on May 18th.
Simion’s victory could quarantine the country, erode private investment and destabilize the eastern side of NATO, where Ukraine is fighting the Russian invasion three years ago, political observers say.
It will also expand its cohort of EU eurosceptic leaders, including already Hungary and Slovak prime ministers, at a time when Europe is struggling to formulate a response to Trump.
“This is not just an election victory, it is a victory for Romania’s dignity. It is a victory for those who have not lost hope, those who believe in Romania, a sovereign nation that is still respected,” Simion said.
The 38-year-old Simion, who has benefited from a wave of general anger towards mainstream leaders, has opposed military aid to neighbouring Ukraine and is critical of EU leadership, saying he is in line with the US president’s greatest movement again.
Dan, 55, an independent run on the anti-corruption platform, has overtaken former 65-year-old Sen. Crin Antonescu.
He has won a significant support in recent years between him and Romanians who support anti-establishment candidates such as Simion, but votes from 80% in the ballot box earned 26%, winning 59% in Simion and 7% in Antonescue.
Observers said they would struggle to beat Simion with a spill than Antonescu due to competition between him and mainstream parties that make it more difficult for voters to switch.
“Looking west, I believe this is what the campaign should be: maintaining the Western direction of Romania,” Dan told reporters Sunday evening.
“… and naturally, I’ll explain to the people at home the shortcomings we had in relation to these institutions. They came rather because of our own being that they were active and unprepared.”
The vote on Sunday came five months after the first attempt to vote was cancelled, as Russian interference in favor of far-right frontrunner Karin Georgek since pausing again.
Simion, who scored only 14%, appears to have taken advantage of the rise in support for the far-right drums Georgescu drummed.
On Sunday, he voted with Georgek. He called elections “fraud” and urged people to bring their country back. He said his vote was “to restore democracy,” as dozens of people outside the voting station chant “Karin for the President.”
“The diaspora vote could be enough to push Dan up to the leak,” said Sergiu Miscoiu, professor of political science at Babes-Bolyai University. “But Dan could be difficult for Simion.”
Simion is not just a Magazine-style politician seeking elections in Central Europe. Karol Naurokki, the presidential candidate supported by Poland’s leading nationalist opposition parties in the May 18 presidential election, met with the US president this week.
“Romania and Poland are two important countries for the United States,” Simion told Reuters on Friday.
“We represent our partners and represent our allies as the current (US) administration, both military and politically. This is why it is important for President Maga to take charge in Bucharest and Warsaw.”
The Romanian president has a semi-enforceable role, including the chairman of the Security Council, who commands the military and decides on military aid. However, Simion says that if elected, he could aim to raise Georgek into a kind of leadership role.
Observers say that if Simion becomes president, the country’s left-wing-led governing coalition may succumb to the country.
Until now, Romania has donated Patriot air defense batteries to Kyiv, training Ukrainian fighter pilots, allowing the export of 30 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain through the port of Constantia, the Black Sea port since the Russian invasion.
The country’s president can also reject important EU votes and appoint a prime minister, supreme court judge, prosecutor, and secretary general.
The Trump administration accused Romania of suppressing political opposition and lacking democratic values after Vice President JD Vance was cancelled after the November election for what he called “flaky evidence.”
This story has been updated with additional information.
