Far-Right George Simion Wins Romania Presidential First Round

Romania's far-right nationalist George Simion, a supporter of Donald Trump's MAGA movement and opponent of military aid to Ukraine, won the first round of the presidential election with around 40% of the vote, setting up a run-off against centrist Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan. The May 18 run-off is framed as a pivotal choice between a nationalist, eurosceptic future under Simion or continued pro-European Union alignment championed by Dan. Simion's rise has triggered significant political turmoil, including the resignation of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and the collapse of the pro-Western coalition government, raising concerns about Romania's role in NATO and the EU. Polls suggest a tight race, with some showing the candidates neck-and-neck, while others predict Simion as the clear favorite, bolstered by strong support from expatriate voters and the lack of unified backing for Dan from the pro-European camp. The election's outcome could substantially impact Romania's political stability, economic outlook, and international alliances, particularly regarding EU unity and military support for Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion. Voter turnout and the mobilization of undecided and pro-European voters are expected to be decisive in the final result.