Romania elects its president, possible breakthrough for the far right

Romanians began voting on Sunday, November 24, in the first round of the presidential election in a tense social climate, which could favor the far-right candidate and mark a nationalist turning point in this Eastern European country.

Among the thirteen applicants, the leader of the AUR (Alliance for the Unity of Romanians) party George Simion, 38, appears in a position to qualify for the second round, according to polls, which credit him with 15 to 19%, against some 25% for the favorite, the current Social Democratic Prime Minister (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu, 56 years old.

With his passionate speech with mystical and conspiratorial overtones, Mr. Simion capitalized, according to experts, on the anger of Romanians impoverished by record inflation (10% last year, 5.5% forecast in 2024).

His accession to the second round, on December 8, would be a thunderclap in this state – member of the European Union and NATO – of 19 million inhabitants which has, until now, resisted nationalist postures, standing out from Hungary or Slovakia.

The offices opened at 7 a.m. in Bucharest (6 a.m. in Paris) and closed at 9 p.m. Exit polls are expected soon after.

George Simion does not hide his admiration for Donald Trump

After ten years in power of Klaus Iohannis, fervent supporter of kyiv and tireless advocate of European values, this election carries heavy stakes, even if the position of president is essentially ceremonial.

Romania, which shares a 650-kilometer border with Ukraine and is bordered by the Black Sea, plays a strategic role « vital »recalls in a study by the New Strategy Center think tank. Both for NATO, of which it houses more than five thousand soldiers, and for the transit of Ukrainian cereals.

“Romanian democracy is in danger, for the first time since the fall of communism in 1989”analysis for Agence France-Presse by political scientist Cristian Parvulescu. With “a situation that has become complicated” since Donald Trump's victory in the American elections.

George Simion, sometimes wearing a red cap with the Trump logo, does not hide his admiration for the billionaire and hopes to take advantage of this favorable wind for ultraconservative currents. Against any military aid to kyiv, which banned him for his activities “anti-Ukrainian”against “the corrupted bubble” of Brussels, against the rights of LGBTQIA +: the official ticks all the boxes of a nationalist policy, advocating a Romania “more patriotic”.

Campaign marked by controversies and attacks

“We no longer want to be treated like second-class citizens”he insists, deploring that Romania was only led by “cowards and lackeys” bending to external dictates. He increased his travels in Europe, to conquer the numerous members of the Romanian diaspora.

If he achieves a good score, his AUR party should benefit from“a contagion effect” in the legislative elections of 1^is December, between the two rounds of the presidential election, predicts Mr. Parvulescu.

The campaign has been marked by a series of controversies and personal attacks, with the far-right leader accused of meeting with Russian spies, which he has denied, while the prime minister is in the hot seat for controversial flights in private jets.

Despite a low popularity rating, Marcel Ciolacu, keen to convey the image of a humble and self-taught man, hopes to convince with his message of “stability”. His party, heir to the former Communist Party, has structured the country's political life for more than three decades through multiple corruption scandals and currently governs in coalition with the liberals of the Liberal National Party.

In third position in the polls is Elena Lasconi, 52, a former journalist and mayor of a small town at the head of a center-right party, who could create a surprise. “Our best hope would perhaps be to wake up with her the day after the first round, she seems the most honest candidate”confides Oana Diaconu, a 36-year-old computer scientist.