The nationalist George Simion largely at the top of the first round

Five months after the shock cancellation of the first round of the presidential election, Romania confirmed its nationalist turn on Sunday, May 4, after a new ballot. George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Romanian unit (AUR), collected around 40.5 %, according to almost final results. He will face in the second round, scheduled for May 18, the centrist mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan (20.9 %), who narrowly exceeded the sole candidate of the ruling parties, Crin Antonescu (20.3 %).

“Together we wrote a history page today”reacted Mr. Simion in a video message broadcast at the headquarters of his party in front of supporters chanting “Outside thieves!” Long live the patriots! »».

He still has to transform the test in the second round on May 18, a complicated task because he has less voice reservations on paper than his rival, comments for the France-Presse the professor of political science Sergiu Miscoiu, predicting a tight race. But other experts point to the fractures of the anti-sovereignist pole after a campaign marked by virulent accusations and low blows.

Eleven pretenders are seeking an essentially protocol but influence in matters of foreign policy, in this member country of the European Union of 19 million inhabitants who have become an essential pillar of NATO since the Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

Calin Georgescu’s surprise victory, a former senior official accused by his detractors of being favorable to the Kremlin, in November had worried in the west of the continent and plunged Romania into political turmoil. The Constitutional Court invalidated the vote and excluded the sixties from this new race, after a massive campaign on Tiktok tapped with suspicions of Russian interference.

He was replaced by Mr. Simion, 38 years old and fourth in the fall. The two men posted together on Sunday in a polling station in Mogosoaia, near Bucharest.

“President Maga”

During the campaign, George Simion brandished his youth, his sovereignist rhetoric and his mastery of the Tiktok platform to hope to avenge his ally Georgescu. If the deputy denies any inclination for Russia, he experiences the same aversion to “Brussels bureaucrats” And opposes any military support to kyiv. On the markets or abroad to convince the important diaspora, this admirer of Donald Trump is dreaming in “President Maga” (Make America Great Again), a slogan sometimes displayed on his caps.

It is therefore the mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, who will face the second round. The one who promised to fight against « corruption » has ahead of the candidate of the pro-European government coalition, crin antonescu. Further behind (13.2 %), the former social democratic Prime Minister Victor Ponta, who had bet on a speech with Trumpist accents tinged with religious references, missed his bet.

If George Simion gains in the supreme post, he promised Sunday from “Porter Calin Georgescu to power”evoking three options: “A referendum, early elections or the formation of a coalition in Parliament which would name him Prime Minister”.

After cancellation, extremely rare decision within the EU, the ballot was under close surveillance. Thousands of people have demonstrated in recent months to denounce “A coup”. The United States also intervened by the voice of vice-president JD Vance who wanted the voice of a people to be silenced “Based on the weak suspicions of an intelligence agency” be heard.

The authorities, who have strengthened preventive measures and collaboration with the Tiktok network, claim to have “Lessons learning” fiasco. While the extreme right evokes “Multiple signs of fraud”the government has denounced disinformation campaigns, seeing it “New attempts at manipulation and interference led by state actors”.