Romanians voted on Sunday in the first round of a presidential election that could propel hard-right eurosceptic George Simion to power in a ballot that will test the rise of Donald Trump-style nationalism in the European Union. <\/p>\n
Simion, 38, opposes military aid to neighboring Ukraine, is critical of the EU leadership and says he is aligned with the US president\u2019s Make America Great Again movement. <\/p>\n
Five months after a first attempt to hold the election was canceled after the first round because of alleged Russian interference in favor of far-right frontrunner Calin Georgescu, since banned from standing again, his heir apparent Simion leads opinion polls, riding a wave of popular anger. <\/p>\n
About 1.98 million Romanians, or 11% of registered voters, had cast ballots by 0710 GMT, data showed. Voting will end at 9 p.m. (1800 GMT) with exit polls to follow immediately and preliminary results expected later in the evening. <\/p>\n
Simion voted alongside Georgescu, who called the election a \u201cfraud\u201d and urged people to take their country back. As dozens of people thronged outside the voting station chanting \u201cCalin for president,\u201d Simion said his vote was \u201cto restore democracy.\u201d <\/p>\n
Simion is polling at around 30%, a comfortable lead but well short of the 50% he needs to avoid a run-off on May 18. <\/p>\n
\u201cGeorge Simion equals Calin Georgescu, he gets my vote,\u201d said Aurelia, 66, a pensioner who declined to give her last name. She said she felt \u201chumiliated\u201d by the cancellation of November\u2019s first round. <\/p>\n
\u201cEverything is lacking here. My children are not here: Did they leave to work abroad because things were so good here?\u201d <\/p>\n
Political analysts said an ultimate victory for Simion could isolate the country, erode private investment and destabilize NATO\u2019s eastern flank, where Ukraine is fighting a three-year-old Russian invasion. <\/p>\n
Simion\u2019s main rivals are two centrists – former senator Crin Antonescu, 65, backed by the three parties in the current pro-Western government, and Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, 55, running as an independent on an anti-corruption platform. <\/p>\n
Both are pro-EU and pro-NATO and back Ukraine. Victor Ponta, a former leftist prime minister who has turned conservative nationalist, is ranked fourth but could prove a dark horse. <\/p>\n
Simion is not the only MAGA-style politician seeking election in central Europe. Karol Nawrocki, the presidential candidate backed by Poland\u2019s main nationalist opposition party in a presidential election on May 18, met Trump this week. <\/p>\n
If elected, they would expand a cohort of eurosceptic leaders that already includes the Hungarian and Slovak prime ministers. <\/p>\n
\u201cRomania and Poland are two important countries for the United States,\u201d Simion told Reuters on Friday. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe represent partners and we represent allies, both military and politically, to the current (US administration. This is why it is important for MAGA presidents to be in charge in Bucharest and Warsaw.\u201d <\/p>\n
Romania\u2019s president has a semi-executive role that includes commanding the armed forces and chairing the security council that decides on military aid. <\/p>\n
To date, Romania has donated a Patriot air defense battery to Kyiv, is training Ukrainian fighter pilots and has enabled the export of some 30 million metric tons of Ukrainian grain through its Black Sea port of Constanta since Russia\u2019s invasion. <\/p>\n
The country\u2019s president can also veto important EU votes and appoints the prime minister, chief judges, prosecutors and secret service heads. <\/p>\n
The Trump administration has accused Romania of suppressing political opposition and lacking democratic values after November\u2019s election was canceled on what Vice President JD Vance called \u201cflimsy evidence.\u201d <\/p>\n
A team of US observers were in Bucharest for Sunday\u2019s vote alongside diplomats and monitors from dozens of countries. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere is clear evidence that there was some sort of nefarious activity going on in the November election,\u201d James E. Trainor III, Commissioner of the US Federal Election Commission, told Reuters in Bucharest. <\/p>\n
\u201cTime is going to prove that \u2026 it was a good decision (to cancel). I know it\u2019s an extreme step, but \u2026 what we see is that Romanian democracy is actually stronger because (it) had this bump in the road, but yet was resilient enough of a democracy to make its way through it.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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