Romania is set to hold a presidential election run-off on Sunday, with centrist Nicusor Dan trailing hard-right eurosceptic George Simion by a narrow margin. A recent opinion poll shows Dan gaining ground, leading Simion 48.7% to 47.8%.
The election comes after a government collapse and raises concerns about the country’s future alignment with Western institutions. Simion’s victory would likely isolate Romania, erode private investment, and destabilize the eastern flank of NATO.
Dan, who is pro-EU and NATO, has pledged to crack down on corruption and support Ukraine, crucial for Romanian security against a growing Russian threat. The election is seen as a test of Trump-style nationalism in the European Union.
Simion’s choice of Calin Georgescu as prime minister suggests an openness towards Russia, with Georgescu promising to “take back everything the EU owes us” and establish relationships with great powers like China and Russia.
The outcome of Sunday’s vote is uncertain, with 1.8% of those surveyed saying they would nullify their vote and another 1.7% undecided. The poll of 5,628 people has a margin of error of 1%, indicating a tight race.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/romanian-centrist-has-slight-lead-over-hard-right-ahead-tight-sunday-vote-survey-2025-05-16