Five months ago, chaos, accusations and even international controversy.
Today Romania goes back to the polls after the election won by the pro-Russian right-wing extremist Calin Georgescu and annulled by a sensational decision, just two days before the run-off, by the Constitutional Court that invalidated the victory due to financial irregularities in Georgescu's electoral campaign and alleged heavy Russian interference conveyed through TikTok.
While in these hours pro-Russian hackers have launched a cyberattack against government websites and those of the candidate of the governing coalition Crin Antonescu – the attack was claimed by the group NoName057(16) – there is a surprise at the polling station: George Simion, the favorite candidate of the far-right, presented himself with Georgescu. "I voted with Calin Georgescu. We are here with only one mission, the restoration of the constitutional order, the restoration of democracy", said Simion. "I have no other goal than the first place for the Romanian people, whom I want to serve. We are here with only one desire, to do justice for Romania".
With Georgescu out of the race, polls give Simion the lead, also a member of the far-right nationalist sovereignist party with pro-Russian, anti-EU and anti-NATO positions, against further military aid to Ukraine. He too is very active on the Chinese social network.
There are eleven candidates in the running, but the competition is focused on four figures: in addition to Simion, leader of the far-right party AUR (Alliance for the Unity of Romanians), given by the polls in a range between 29% and 34%, among the favorites are the liberal Crin Antonescu, a moderate exponent supported by the governing coalition PSD-PNL-UDMR with a consensus oscillating between 21% and 26%; Nicusor Dan, independent mayor of Bucharest and pro-EU reformist, who oscillates between 19% and 23%; and Victor Ponta, former Social Democratic prime minister, also independent, but candidate with a nationalist platform, and who can count on lower percentages of consensus.
Although he is the big favourite, George Simion is unlikely to win in today's first round, and polls suggest a run-off on May 18 is highly likely, with Antonescu and Dan battling for second place and access to the second round.
What is certain is that the outcome of these elections is destined to have profound repercussions, not only on Romania's internal political orientation, but also on its role within the European Union and on its relationship with its Western NATO allies, considering the strategic position of the Balkan country in the south-eastern quadrant of the Atlantic Alliance and on the border with war-torn Ukraine.
The possibility of a nationalist and sovereignist turn is concrete, and feared in Europe, but with the probable runoff the way remains open to a reconfirmation of the pro-European line. The new president will replace the liberal Klaus Iohannis, who resigned in February after two consecutive five-year terms, and was replaced on an interim basis by Ilie Bolojan.
(Online Union)