Right -wing and fan of Trump the winner in the first round of the Romanian presidential election
Euroscepticist George Simon appeared to be on a victory in the first round of the repetitive presidential election in Romania on Sunday, as the individual results showed, after a vote that was considered a test of the rise of the European Union.
The ballots from 50% of the electoral departments showed former Senator Krin Antonescu, 65, second, with 23% behind 42% of Simon. In third place was the mayor of Bucharest Nicusor Dan, 55, with 16%. The first two candidates will meet in a second round on May 18th.
A Simon victory could isolate the country, erode private investment and destabilize NATO’s eastern wing, where Ukraine is fighting a three -year Russian invasion, political observers say.
« 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, those who still believe in Romania, a free, respectable, dominant country, « Simon said.
Crushing a picture of the Protector of Theotokos, George Simon went to vote in his constituency.
Eurosceptist with maga features and sympathies
Benefitting a wave of popular anger against the dominant leaders, Simon, 38, opposes military aid to neighboring Ukraine, criticizes the EU leadership and states that it is compiling the US president’s « Make America Great Again » movement.
Antonescu, 65, who has been absent from politics for a decade, wants to continue the essential role of Romania in Ukraine’s support and is known in the electorate.
Sunday’s vote was held five months after the first attempt to hold the elections canceled due to the alleged Russian intervention in favor of the far -right predominant candidate Kalin Georgescu, who has since been forbidden to re -run.
Simon voted with George, who called the « fraud » election and called on the citizens to take their country back. As dozens of people were crowded outside the constituency shouting « Kalin for President », Simon said his vote was « for the restoration of democracy ».
« It is possible that the vote of the diaspora is enough to push Dan to the second round, » said Sergiu Miskoio, a professor of political science at Babes-Bolyai University. « But Dan can get more difficult for Simon. »
The post -election overturned Kalin Giorzescu greets the world by going to vote with Simon.
The Eastern European Maga Wing
Simon is not the only Maga politician who is claiming elections in Central Europe. Carol Navruki, the candidate for president supported by the Poland’s main nationalist party in the May 18th presidential election, met with Trump this week.
If they are elected, they will be expanded by a debate of Eurosceptic leaders who already include the Prime Ministers of Hungary and Slovakia.
« Romania and Poland are two important countries for the United States, » Simon told Reuters on Friday. « We represent partners and allies, both militarily and politically, for the current (US) government. That is why it is important that the presidents of Maga be headed in Bucharest and Warsaw. «
The joint presence of Simon and Georgescu leaves room for cooperation in the future.
How does the government system work in Romania
The president of Romania has a semi-executive role involving the administration of the Armed Forces and the presidency of the Security Council that decides on military assistance.
To date, Romania has donated to Kiev a Patriot air defense array, trains Ukrainian fighter aircraft pilots and has allowed the export of 30 million tonnes of Ukrainian cereals through its port in the Black Sea, the Constantine.
The country’s president can also veto important EU votes and appoints the prime minister, senior judges, prosecutors and heads of intelligence.
The Trump government has accused Romania for suppressing the political opposition and a lack of democratic values after the cancellation of the November elections with « loose elements », as Vice President Jay Di Vance described them.
