Eleven contenders in total broke out an essentially protocol but influence in foreign policy, in this EU member country of 19 million inhabitants who have become an essential pillar of NATO since the Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
The surprise victory 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 political turmoil.
The Constitutional Court invalidated the vote and excluded the sixties of this new race, after a massive campaign on Tiktok tainted with 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, is successful this time. “I try my luck,” he explains to AFP 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 hope to avenge his now allied Georgescu.
If the deputy denies any inclination for Russia, he shares the same aversion to “the Bureaucrats Brusselsois” and opposes any military support for kyiv.
In the markets or abroad to convince the important diaspora, this fan of Donald Trump is dreaming in “President Maga” (Make America Great Again), a slogan sometimes displayed on his caps.
This speech pleases Stela Ivan, 67, who “hopes wholeheartedly” his final victory.
George Simion would bring “change” and bring back his sons who left to live in Spain, she believes, weary of political parties in power since the end of communism.
Inflation, very high in Romania, is also on everyone’s lips, Silvia Tomescu, a 52 -year -old nurse, saying for example aspiring “a better life and higher wages”.
Who will be George Simion’s opponent in the second round?
The suspense is whole as the gap is tight between the candidate of the pro-European governmental coalition, Crin Antonescu, and the mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, who promised to fight against “corruption”.
Further behind (around 15%), appears the former social democratic Prime Minister Victor Ponta, who had bet on a discourse to Trumpist accents tinged with references to God.
If George Simion reaches the supreme position, he promised on Sunday to “bring Callin 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, vice-president JD Vance calling for listening to the voice of a people who have been silent “on the basis of the weak suspicions of an intelligence agency”.
The authorities, who have strengthened prevention measures and collaboration with the Tiktok network, ensure that they “learn” from fiasco.
While the extreme right evokes “multiple signs of fraud”, the government has pointed out disinformation campaigns, seeing “new attempts at manipulation and interference led by state actors”.
