In Romania, the extreme right dominates the first round of the presidential election

The candidate has changed, but the extreme right remains in the lead: five months after the shock cancellation of the first round of the presidential election, Romania confirmed in a new vote on Sunday its nationalist turn.

George Simion, an admirer of Donald Trump who dreams in President Maga (Make America Great Again), collected around 40.5 % of the vote, 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 have written a history page todayreacted Mr. Simion to a video message broadcast at the headquarters of his party in front of delighted supporters who sang Outside thieves, long live the patriots.

He still has to transform the test during the second round, on May 18, a complicated task, because he has on paper less of voice reserves than his rival, commented for theAFP Political science professor Sergiu Miscoiu, predicting a tight race.

However, other experts point to the fractures of the antisverserainist pole after a campaign marked by virulent accusations and by low blows.

Eleven contenders in total broke up an essentially protocol but influence in foreign policy in this member country of theUE 19 million inhabitants who have become an essential pillar of theTake Since the Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

Cancellation of the November presidential election

The arrival at the head surprise, in November, of Calin Georgescu, a former senior official accused by his detractors of being favorable to the Kremlin, had worried in the west of the continent and plunged Romania into the turmoil.

The Constitutional Court invalidated the ballot and excluded the sixties of this new election after a massive campaign on Tiktok marred by suspicions of Russian interference.

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

Many hope, like Robert Teodoroiu, a 37-year-old driver, that their bulletin, unsuccessful in November, ended this time. I try my luckhe explained to theAFP in the streets of the capital.

During the campaign, George Simion brandished his youth, his sovereignist rhetoric and his mastery of the Tiktok platform to seduce the voters of Calin Georgescu.

If the party leader Alliance for the Union of Romanians (Aur) denies any inclination for Russia, he shares the same aversion to Brussels bureaucrats And opposes any military support to kyiv.

Throughout the day, voters have entrusted their desire to change And their rejection of traditional political parties, in power since the end of communism.

Inflation, very high in Romania, is also on everyone’s lips, Silvia Tommescu, 52 -year -old nurse, saying for example aspiring A better life and higher wages.

If George Simion gains in the supreme post, he promised Porter Calin Georgescu in powerevoking three options: A referendum, anticipated legislative elections or the formation of a coalition in Parliament which would appoint him Prime Minister.

After the cancellation of the November ballot, extremely rare decision within theUEthe ballot was under close surveillance.

Thousands of people have demonstrated in recent months to denounce a coup. The United States also intervened, vice-president JD Vance calling for listening to the voice of a people who have been silent Based on the weak suspicions of an intelligence agency.

The authorities, who have strengthened the prevention measures, claim to have learned the lessons du Fiasco.

While the extreme right evokes multiple signs of fraudthe government has pointed out disinformation campaigns, seeing it new attempts at manipulation and interference carried out by state actorswithout citing Russia by name.