A hard-right Eurosceptic leader in Romania has emerged as the clear winner in the first round of voting in the country’s presidential election re-run.
Early on Monday, George Simion was ahead with 41% of the vote, with liberal Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan trailing in second place with 21%.
They will meet in a runoff vote on 18 May, where the right-wing leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) is now the heavy favourite.
It comes five months after a first attempt to hold the election was cancelled because of alleged Russian interference supposedly in favour of far-right frontrunner Calin Georgescu.
The vote is seen as a test of the rise of Donald Trump-style nationalism within the European Union.
A win for Mr Simion would expand the cohort of Eurosceptic leaders in the EU that already includes premiers in Hungary and Slovakia.
“This is not just an electoral victory, it is a victory of Romanian dignity. It is the victory of those who have not lost hope, of those who still believe in Romania, a free, respected, sovereign country,” the 38-year-old Mr Simion said.
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He ran in the first election, but scored only 14% and appears to have enjoyed an upswell of support from the far-right, driven by Mr Georgescu being banned from standing again.
Third-place Crin Antonescu conceded defeat and said he believes it is an “irreversible result.”
Mr Simion secured victory in 36 out of Romania’s 47 electoral districts and benefited from a wave of popular anger and dissatisfaction against mainstream leaders.
He opposes military aid to neighbouring Ukraine, is critical of EU leadership and has previously said he is aligned with Mr Trump’s Make America Great Again movement.
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“We are a Trumpist party which will govern Romania and which will make Romania a strong partner in NATO and a strong ally of the United States,” Mr Simion told foreign media shortly before polling stations closed.
He appeared alongside Mr Georgescu at a polling station in the Romanian capital on Sunday.
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After confirming his status as the underdog going into the runoff, Mr Dan thanked his supporters.
The 55-year-old mathematician and former anti-corruption activist said: “A difficult second round is going to follow with the isolationist candidate. It will not be a debate between individuals, it will be a debate between a pro-Western direction for Romania and an anti-Western direction for Romania.
“It is our task to convince Romanians that Romania needs the pro-Western direction and that is what our campaign will focus on, these two weeks.”
