Romania’s Presidential Election Restarts Sunday After Vote Was Annulled Over Alleged Russian Interference

Romania’s Presidential Election Restarts Sunday After Vote Was Annulled Over Alleged Russian Interference

According to a report by Al Jazeera, Romania’s presidential election has resumed on Sunday after the annulment of the November election due to allegations of Russian interference, in which NATO-opposing candidate Călin Georgescu had claimed victory.

Voting began at 7:00 AM local time (04:00 GMT) and will continue until 9:00 PM (18:00 GMT). Exit polls are expected after the voting concludes. According to surveys, far-right politician George Simion is currently leading in the first round.

Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the results of last November’s election, where NATO-opposing Călin Georgescu had emerged as the winner. Subsequently, he was declared ineligible to run in the re-election.

Georgescu was excluded following a massive TikTok campaign and claims of Russian interference, which also sparked some violent protests. In his place, George Simion has effectively stepped in as a leading candidate and is one of the 11 contenders in Sunday’s first-round election.

Simion opposes military aid to neighboring Ukraine, is critical of European Union leadership, and has declared himself a supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement. He currently enjoys about 30% public support, putting him ahead, but if he does not receive 50%, a runoff election will be held on May 18.

Simion’s main rivals are two centrist candidates: former Senator Crin Antonescu (65), who has the backing of a pro-Western coalition of three parties, and Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan (55), who is running as an independent on an anti-corruption platform. Both are supporters of the European Union and NATO, and stand with Ukraine.

In fourth place is former left-wing Prime Minister Victor Ponta, who has recently become a conservative nationalist and is being seen as a potential “dark horse” candidate.

Aurelia, a 66-year-old retiree who did not wish to disclose her full name, told Reuters, “George Simion means Călin Georgescu to me, I’ll vote for him. I felt insulted when the first round in November was annulled.”

On the other hand, 65-year-old Eugenia Niculescu, a Bucharest resident struggling with medical and other expenses, told AFP, “We need a competent leader who can speak for the Romanian people within the European Union.”

It’s worth noting that Romania’s president can serve a maximum of two five-year terms. The position carries semi-executive powers, including leading the armed forces, chairing the security council (which decides on military aid), appointing the prime minister, chief justice, public prosecutors, and intelligence agency heads.

The president also represents Romania in European Union and NATO summits and holds veto power in critical EU votes.