Romania recently held a pivotal presidential runoff election, engaging nearly 19 million citizens both within the contry and abroad. The election aimed to determine the nation’s new head of state, marking a critical moment in Romanian politics. Polling stations across the country, approximately 19,000 in total, were open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time, with provisions for extended hours until midnight in areas experiencing long queues.Exit polls from three opinion research institutes were released at 9 p.m. local time, providing initial insights into the election’s outcome.

Overseas Voting and Austrian Presence

For Romanian citizens residing abroad, the runoff election spanned three days, commencing on Friday. Romanian authorities established 965 polling stations internationally to accommodate these voters. austria hosted a notable number of these stations, totaling 17 locations:

• Vienna: 6 polling stations
• Salzburg: 2 polling stations
• Graz: 2 polling stations
• Linz: 2 polling stations
• Eisenstadt: 1 polling station
• Sankt Pölten: 1 polling station
• Bregenz: 1 polling station
• Innsbruck: 1 polling station
• Klagenfurt: 1 polling station

the Candidates: Simion vs. Dan

The first round of the presidential election saw right-wing populist George Simion leading with almost 41 percent of the votes. Nicusor Dan, the party-free liberal mayor of Bucharest, secured 21 percent. Recent surveys indicated a significant shift in voter sentiment.

According to a survey by the IRSOP opinion research institute conducted mid-week, Dan had surged ahead, leading with 52 percent, while Simion garnered 48 percent. The final survey by Atlasintel, published the Friday before the runoff, also placed Dan in the lead, albeit with a narrow margin: 48.7 percent for Dan versus 47.8 percent for Simion. These figures suggested a closely contested race, where a few tens of thousands of votes could determine the election’s outcome.

Political Context: A Nation in Crisis

romania has been navigating a period of political instability. In November, Calin Georgescu, a relatively unknown right-wing radical, surprisingly won the first round of the presidential election. However, the constitutional court invalidated the results due to suspicions of election interference by Russia. Georgescu was afterward excluded from the repeat election, paving the way for Simion to emerge as the candidate representing the right.

Simion’s Platform and Stance

A victory for Simion would mark the first time Romania has an ultra-right president. During his campaign, Simion pledged to prioritize Romania’s interests and criticized what he termed absurd laws from brussels. He also expressed intentions to reduce funding for military support to Ukraine.

Simion’s Final Act Before the Vote

On Sunday, Simion cast his vote in Mogosoaia, near Bucharest, accompanied by Calin Georgescu, who had been excluded from the election. Calin Georgescu for President, supporters chanted as the two arrived.The cancellation of the previous election and Georgescu’s subsequent exclusion had triggered large protests with violent rallies.

Dan’s vision for Romania

Dan, who recently gained ground in the polls, emphasized the importance of the election. This is a turning point, a crucial choice, said the independent, pro-European dan after voting in his hometown of Fagara. He stated that he had voted for a european direction and not for Romania’s isolation.