Electoral scenarios in Romania scare Brussels

All eyes are focused on Romania, writes Politico.euin an analysis of several possible scenarios on presidential from Romania. « The country goes to the ballot box on May 4 in the first round of controversial presidential elections, after the concerns of Russia’s interference triggered the cancellation of the initial vote in November last year, » the publication noted.

« Now, that the ultra-nationalist Călin Georgescu, supported by Moscow, was disqualified from the renewal choices, George Simion, the leader of the far-right alliance for the Romanians’ Union (gold), climbed the poll before a vote that threatens to shake the EU and NATO if Bucharest will travel. »

George Simion Vs. Victor Ponta

This is the confrontation that terrifies both Romania and Europe, writes Politico.

Former prime minister and former president of the PSD, Ponta was forced to resign after a fire with numerous victims in a nightclub in 2015, which the protesters put on corruption. He is applying on a sovereignist platform « Romania first », promising to stop Ukrainian cereal exports through the Romanian ports (a key route for the war -devastated country) to protect the local farmers. But Ponta was criticized because he admitted that he allowed four Romanian villages on the Danube to be flooded to save the Serbian capital Belgrade in 2014. Ponta tends to obtain support from the older voters from the smaller urban areas. Like Simion, he also tries to obtain the support of Georgescu’s former voters. Last week, USR leaders supported Dan instead of their own candidate, Elena Lasconi, in an attempt to prevent Ponta from breaking the second place. A confrontation between Simion and Ponta would be a « toxic » scenario, they warned. While both present a nationalist and anti-European image, Ponta would probably be « perceived, compared to Simion, as a more pro-European candidate, » said Remus Stefureac, the director of INScop. Simion faced accusations (which he repeatedly denied) to meet with Russian spies. He has a prohibition to enter Moldova and Ukraine because of the past calls to claim land and oppose the continuation of military aid for Ukraine. However, during the pre-election period, he cataloged Putin as a great threat, approaching Trump’s Maga’s movement. His pro-Russian candidate reputation could finally cost him, said Stefureac: according to a recent poll, almost 90 percent of Romanians support the EU and NATO member. Romania is one of the largest EU countries after the population, a key nation on the eastern flank of Europe and NATO and a serious military power. A victory of a skeptical politician both towards the EU and NATO would give the block plans to support Ukraine in his fight against Russia. If the two were facing the second round, it would be a close race, according to Stefureac.