Simion leads in Romania's re‑run as turnout tops 53%
In Romania, a repeat presidential election took place. Exit poll research indicates that the leader of the radical right-wing AUR party received the most votes in the first round. Voter turnout was over 53 per cent. Approximately 19 million people were eligible to vote in the country and abroad.
In the repeated presidential elections in Romania, George Simion, the leader of the radical right-wing AUR (Alliance for the Union of Romanians) party, received the most votes in the first round, obtaining 33.1 per cent support. The liberal Crin Antonescu came in second with 22.9 per cent. Nicusor Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, took third place with 20.9 per cent, according to an exit poll conducted by the CURS centre.
Another study, conducted by phone by the INSCOP centre, also indicates Simion leading with 36.2 per cent support. In this study, Antonescu received 21.5 per cent and Dan 20.6 per cent. The results from the Avangarde centre's exit poll give Simion 30 per cent, and both Dan and Antonescu 23 per cent each.
The other candidates included Victor Ponta, a former prime minister from the Social Democrats; Elena Lasconi, leader of the centre-right USR (Save Romania Union); Cristian Terhes from the Romanian National Conservative Party; Marcela Sandru (Humanist Social Liberal Party); Sebastian Popescu from the New Romania Party; Silviu Predoiu from the National Action League Party; as well as independent candidates John-Ion Banu-Muscel and Petru Funeriu.
Active diaspora
Voter turnout in Romania was over 53 per cent. Approximately 19 million people were eligible to vote in the country and abroad. The diaspora was particularly active, with about 970,000 citizens voting, which is a higher number than in the previous elections. It should be noted that more than 6 million citizens live outside Romania's borders.
Sunday's elections were a re-vote after the Constitutional Court annulled the first round from November 2024. There were allegations against Calin Georgescu, who took first place at the time, concerning campaign violations and Russian support.
The second round of the presidential elections in Romania is scheduled for May 18th. On the same day, the first round of the presidential elections in Poland will take place.
