The Romanian Presidential Election can lead an ultra -nationalist to power
Romanians vote today in a repetition of the presidential election, which can bring nationalist George Simion to power. His forecasts give him a lead for the first round, but it is not certain how he will perform at the run -off on May 18.
If it reaches it and wins, it will be a result that will probably cause concern in the European Union and NATO and anxious investors, Reuters commented.
- Significant share – between 20 and 40 percent of the voting right – they said in recent days that have not yet determined Who to vote for.
- The preferences of voters abroadwho have already voted at 7am on May 2, and their activity is outlined – last night at 10 pm over 393,000 Romanians voted.
The far -right Eurosceptic leads in sociological studies five months after the initial vote was canceled due to suspected Russian intervention. Moscow denied the allegations.
Romanians choose on Sunday between three roads for Romania and many still hesitate
« We have to start to be afraid »
Dozens of leading writers, directors and historians in Romania have written an open letter calling on the voters to support a pro -European candidate against the far -right favorite of Romania’s repetitive presidential election on Sunday. The letter criticizes the « extremist » candidates without being named, and is a clear attempt to convince Romanians to vote against George Simion.
« Romanian society has lost its confidence in politics, » the letter said. « The election of a president who is honest, reliable, engaged, pro -European and oriented to significant reforms, one that is not indebted to corrupt or extremist parties is the first step to get out of the crisis. »
« We must start again afraid of the horrific failure that Romania can suffer if we have an anti -European president after May 18, » one of the signators, the writer Radu Vanu, told Reuters. « With Simion as President Romania, she risks losing (her importance in) the European Union, which is her best period in her entire history, » Vanu said.
Simion’s favorites
Simion hopes to take advantage of the widespread public anger because of the cancellation after attracting supporters of the far -right contender Kalin George, who won the vote in the canceled first round in December, and is now forbidden to run.
Simon’s 38-year-old opposes military assistance to neighboring Ukraine, criticizes the EU leadership, and supports the « made America again » movement of US President Donald Trump. A conservative Christian, he supported a 2018 unsuccessful referendum aimed at preventing same -sex couples from marrying.
The far -right George Simion would lose the run -off in Romania by at least one candidate
Simon’s victory can isolate Romania abroad, undermine private investments and make the country less predictable and cooperating a NATO member regarding military aid for Kiev, which will benefit Russia as it waged war in Ukraine.
| « It is very clear that a strong anti -Western trend has been built and Romania’s path (direction) is exposed to an unprecedented risk, » said Christian Pirvulescu, a political scientist. |
Simion receives about 30% support in sociological studies, which gives him a comfortable lead in front of two centists, but suggests that he will not win enough votes to avoid a second round.
- His main election rivals are two centists, former Senator Krin Antonescu and Bucharest Mayor Nikushor Dan.
- 65-year-old Antonescu is supported by the three parties in the current pro-Western government.
- The 55-year-old Dan is running as an independent candidate with a reform platform.
- Both are pro-EU and NATO and support Ukraine. Antonescu would probably support the current government if he won the election. Dan said he would be for a new pro -Western government.
Many voters responded positively to Simion, who finished fourth in the original vote and then stood behind George, who was accused of supporting fascist groups and campaign financing problems. Election authorities are also investigating the funding of Simon’s campaign.
- « He stood behind the man who wanted only the best for this country, showed honesty compared to other candidates, and I hope he will restore democracy in Romania through his actions, » Vlad Popa, a 50-year-old lawyer, told Reuters.
Some other voters are cautious about Simion’s youth and his lack of political experience.
- « I’m not interested in his beliefs, the problem … is that he is too young, » said 80-year-old pensioner Traian Caravan in a village in Central Romania.
The President of Romania is limited to two five-year terms and has a semi-executive power that includes a command of the Armed Forces and the Presidency of the Security Council, which decides on military assistance.
The President represents Romania at the EU and NATO summit meetings, may veto important votes in the EU and appoint the Prime Minister, the main judges, prosecutors and the heads of the secret services.
| JP Morgan said Antonescu’s victory would mean preserving the status quo and that the victory for Simion would carry the « greatest risk of adjusting the ruling coalition and therefore the greatest uncertainty. » |
The election repetition stopped the government’s efforts to reduce the EU’s largest budget deficit, putting the country at risk of lowering the rating below the investment level. Simion tries to reassure investors by saying that he would not do anything that Giorgie Meloni would not do. He also urged Romanian farmers to enjoy the Black Sea port of Constanta against the backdrop of millions of tons of Ukrainian grain that went through it.
Candidate for President of Romania has met with Trump in Sofia
The next president will have to deal with any economic consequences of a potential trade war and face pressure to increase defense costs. The president is likely to try to fix his relationship with Washington after members of the Trump administration criticized the decision to revoke the initial vote. Hours before the vote, the United States canceled the Visual regime for Romanians before it came into force.
If elected, Simion said he would announce publicly « how much we contributed to the military efforts in Ukraine to the detriment of subsidies for Romanian children and pensions for the elderly. »
Simion has supported the restoration of the boundaries of Romania from 1940, which include territories, now in Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine, and is forbidden to enter the last two.
On Friday, he said that Russia is not a significant threat to NATO, « why there is no potential » and the only risk to the Eastern Flank of the Alliance – in particular for Romania, Poland and the Baltic republics – is to fall apart. Analysts quoted by Reuters say the nationalist can destabilize the Eastern flank by being political positions to Hungary and Slovakia.
